Russell's Big Night Leads Nets Over Celtics 109-102
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — D'Angelo Russell scored 18 of his 34 points in the third quarter and the Brooklyn Nets ended a 10-game losing streak to Boston with a 109-102 victory on Monday night, sending the Celtics to a winless three-game road trip.
With Kyrie Irving nursing a bruised right quadriceps, the Nets blew open the game with a 15-0 run in the third quarter and outscored the Celtics 44-21 in the period.
Jarrett Allen added 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Nets, who have won nine of their last 10 home games. Rookie Rodions Kurucs also scored 19 points.
Jayson Tatum scored 34 points for the Celtics, who dropped games at Miami and Orlando to start their trip. Jaylen Brown added 22 points.
Boston was off from the start, with Brad Stevens calling a timeout just 29 seconds into the game after a turnover led to Russell's 3-pointer and a 3-0 Brooklyn lead.
But the game didn't get away from the Celtics until the third, when Russell hit three 3-pointers in the 15-0 burst that made it 76-59. Brooklyn then scored seven straight after Terry Rozier's basket, pushing it to 83-61.
Nets fans have watched their team stumble and the Celtics soar as the result of the 2013 trade that sent Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to Brooklyn, and a number of draft picks to Boston.
So a group of fans enjoyed the rare chance to rub it in as the Nets were romping, with a fairly loud "Kyrie's Leaving! Kyrie's Leaving!" chant breaking out early in the fourth quarter, when the Nets led by 27.
Irving, a free agent after the season, was noticeably frustrated with the Celtics' execution at the end of their loss in Orlando on Saturday.
But it was almost a premature celebration, as Boston charged all the way back to get within seven in the final minute.
TIP-INS:
Nets reserve G Shabazz Napier was sidelined by right hamstring tightness. F's Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Jared Dudley and G Allen Crabbe remained out with injuries. The Nets won for the first time in five games this season on a Monday. They had their most lopsided loss of the season on the previous Monday, falling 116-95 in Boston.
UP NEXT:
The Nets visit Houston on Wednesday.
(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
