BROOKLYN NETS

The Brooklyn Nets took on the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on Wednesday night, and Kyrie Irving did not make the trip. Still, Celtics fans still took the opportunity to boo him as his current team fell to his former, 121-110.

The game started off right with the connection between Spencer Dinwiddie and Jarrett Allen, being electric as always.

Spence passing the yams early and often for The Fro 🤝 pic.twitter.com/x2ojDYYCZO — Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) November 28, 2019

The offense was flowing, even better than expected — and then the fouls started. Errors and some questionably blown whistles killed the Nets’ momentum as Boston began to pull away. It started to look like the blowout most expected.

But Garrett Temple had something to say about that.

☔️☔️☔️☔️☔️☔️☔️☔️☔️☔️ TEN Nets threes in that quarter. pic.twitter.com/0rOE1mZ4fR — Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) November 28, 2019

He went nuclear, hitting three threes in a row to halt the Celtics’ run and get Brooklyn back in it. The second unit for the Nets ate their fill and then some against Boston’s bench and took the lead going into the half.

But Brad Stevens made some defensive adjustments, and things got a lot trickier for Brooklyn. The offense that was humming before began to sputter. Dinwiddie got the superstar treatment, frequently finding himself trapped and his drives contained. The shots were not falling for Brooklyn, but they definitely were for Kemba Walker. He found his groove and never lost it to the tune of a 39-point outing.

The Nets needed to work their way inside and try to get easy shots at the rim, and hopefully some free-throws. But Brooklyn shot 9-for-19 on their attempts from the charity stripe, a gruesome 47.4 percent.

Yikes.

There were attempts down the stretch for Brooklyn to get back into the game, but the lineup decisions did not do the Nets any favors. They ultimately fell, but not without giving the Celtics a fight.

It was not ideal, but it was better than most expected coming into the matchup.

Still, one thing is for certain: Kyrie Irving will be waiting for his opportunity. March 3, in Boston. Mark the date.

In the meantime, however, the Nets will prepare to host the Celtics on Friday — perhaps by shooting some free-throws?