Boston Celtics aim to complete NBA season sweep of Brooklyn Nets

BOSTON – The Boston Celtics will look to continue their National Basketball Association (NBA) dominance over the visiting Brooklyn Nets when the teams meet on March 18 (March 19, Singapore time).

Boston have won 13 of their last 14 games against Brooklyn, including a 115-113 victory at Brooklyn on March 15. The Celtics are 3-0 against the Nets this season.

One key player who could again make a difference is Kristaps Porzingis, who returned to the court after missing eight games with a viral illness and scored 14 of his game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter.

“I haven’t been this sick, probably ever, in my life,” he said. “I was not feeling in shape yet, but in these kinds of moments, you’ve got to bite down and bring something from deep.”

The Celtics, who trail only the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference standings, needed a big effort from Porzingis since they played without Al Horford (toe) and Derrick White (knee).

Jaylen Brown also left the game with back spasms midway through the third quarter and did not return; he is listed as out for the March 18 matchup.

Porzingis played 32 minutes and was nine of 16 from the field.

“It shows the skill set he has – he’s a unicorn,” Boston’s Payton Pritchard said. “An unreal player. When we have him, we’re even more dangerous.”

Jayson Tatum is fifth in NBA scoring (27.1 points per game) and was Boston’s leading scorer in each of their first two victories over the Nets this season. He had 20 points, eight rebounds and eight assists during the latest win against Brooklyn.

But he is listed as questionable for the March 18 clash due to a knee issue.

In their meetings this season, Boston beat Brooklyn 108-104 in overtime at home on Nov 8, then prevailed 139-114 at Brooklyn on Nov 13, before their weekend victory.

A day later, Brooklyn ended a three-game losing streak by beating the Atlanta Hawks 122-114, but the Nets have a 2-10 record in their last 12 games and are 12th out of 15 teams in the Eastern Conference standings.

Cameron Johnson led the team with 28 points against the Hawks.

“It’s been good for me amongst all the craziness of the season, amongst everything we’ve had, the ups and downs, the close losses our season has been littered with, to take something really positive day in and day out,” he said.

“Working to get better for that next game, that next play and I think that’s where we’re all at right now.”

Besides Johnson, the Nets will also look to Keon Johnson, who collected 22 points, eight rebounds and five assists during the victory over Atlanta.

Brooklyn coach Jordi Fernandez said Keon Johnson brings energy to the team whenever he is on the court, and the player himself feels the same.

“I feel like that’s just part of my DNA, of what I bring to the game. Play as hard as I can and just compete to my hardest,” he said.

“My teammates love it and my teammates feed off it, so that’s just a standard I have to continue to hold myself to because at the end of the day, we never know how games may go.”

The Celtics (49-19) enter the matchup with seven wins in their last eight games, while the Nets (23-45) will attempt to end a six-game road losing streak.

Meanwhile in NBA action on March 17, Luka Doncic had 21 points, 14 assists and nine rebounds, while Austin Reaves added 30 points as the Los Angeles Lakers extended their home winning streak to eight games with a 125-109 victory over the struggling San Antonio Spurs.

Jordan Goodwin and Dorian Finney-Smith each scored 15 points and Dalton Knecht had 13 for the Lakers (42-25), who were without LeBron James (groin) for the fifth consecutive game and Rui Hachimura (knee) for the 10th straight contest.

Tied for fourth place in the Western Conference, Los Angeles have earned back-to-back wins since returning from a winless four-game road trip. REUTERS