The Boston Celtics have fallen to within a game of elimination and a 3 – 1 deficit in the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs after losing to a more focused Brooklyn Nets 141 – 126 Sunday evening.
Despite the near-capacity crowd, the Nets were able to assert their elite offensive game on a banged-up Celtics roster with little functional resistance. Boston keenly felt the absence of both Robert Williams III and Kemba Walker joining All-Star wing Jaylen Brown on the injury list, and little in the way of answers for the Nets on either end without the pair.
While the Celtics would lead by as much as 9 points early, things began to unravel late in the first quarter, and Brooklyn fended off every attempt of Boston to regain some footing.
Can you name the Boston Celtics’ most prolific postseason 3-point shooters? Better yet, can you do it in order? https://t.co/d3TWtcGzvR
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) May 31, 2021
The Celtics were led by 40 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists from All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum, 16 points and 9 assists from veteran guard Marcus Smart, and 16 points from shooting guard Evan Fournier.
The series now returns to Brooklyn on Tuesday, June 1 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time, with a potential loss spelling the end of Boston’s 2020-21 NBA season.
This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!
