The Boston Celtics play the Brooklyn Nets in a rematch of their 113 – 89 preseason drubbing on Dec. 18th, with tipoff set for 5pm ET.
The Nets are enjoying the early fruits of their two best players having had the time they need to recuperate from serious injuries over the course of the last year, with point guard Kyrie Irving having surgery for a shoulder impingement and forward Kevin Durant returned from an achilles injury that forced the former Golden State Warrior to miss the entirety of the 2019-20 NBA season. The Celtics are in a comparatively poor state of health, but hope to use the early part of the 2020-21 season to prepare their own injured players.
Nets vs. Celtics: Live stream, how to watch, start time on Christmas Day https://t.co/leQUvJt79F
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) December 25, 2020
Those players are of course starting point guard Kemba Walker and wing Romeo Langford, with the UConn product rehabilitating his often-sore knee and the Indiana native working his way back from surgery to repair a torn tendon.
They are joined by two way center Tacko Fall, who will also sit for the Christmas Day game with eye irritation.
On this day: Celtics legend Tommy Heinsohn scores 45 on Christmas https://t.co/KGDubQsWKa
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) December 25, 2020
As for the Nets, the team has a clean bill of health from the top to the bottom of their roster, which owns a 1 – 0 record along with the Celtics, each having bested their season opener opponent.
Boston will miss Walker’s scoring considerably against this supercharged Brooklyn offense, and the luxury of being able to deploy Langford for wing depth will also be a challenge for the Celtics.
But if Boston can replicate some of the connected play demonstrated against the Milwaukee Bucks on Dec. 23, there’s a real chance to hand their Atlantic Division rivals their first L of the season despite the absence of this trio.
