Celtics

The Boston Celtics took home a wire-to-wire victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night, setting franchise records along the way.

Boston went up nine points less than four minutes into the first quarter, and owned a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game. The Celtics entered as 8.5-point favorites over the Nets, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. Boston started 8-for-8 from beyond the arc. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined to go 14-for-24 from beyond the arc. The Celtics scored 79 points in the first half, their most since the 1989-90 season, according to Celtics.com’s Taylor Snow. If you have, you’d know that Wednesday’s matchup between the Celtics and Nets was far less competitive.

Jayson Tatum scored 31 points and had nine rebounds and the Celtics rolled to a 139-96 win over the short-handed Brooklyn Nets.

… Boston outscored the Nets 22-1 in fastbreak points in the first half. … Shot 18 of 29 (62%) in the first quarter, including 8 of 11 from 3-point range. Nets: Shot 6 of 21 (29%) in the first quarter. Tatum finished the quarter with 18 points, single-handedly outscoring the Nets as Boston took a 46-16 edge into the second quarter. Jaylen Brown added 26 points as both of Boston’s stars knocked down seven 3-pointers in a game the Celtics never trailed and led by as many as 49 points. The Nets dropped to 4-7 since Kevin Durant sprained his right knee on Jan.

BOSTON — It wasn't quite the same as their blowout victory over the Nets from last season, but the Celtics still dominated the Nets comfortably.

Brown (32 minutes) and Derrick White (31) both crossed over the 30-minute threshold, but the C’s didn’t need to play any of their starters in the fourth quarter. That’s a great sign for the Celtics as Williams unlocks what they want to do defensively. While the C’s are coming off a three-day break, it’s always smart to avoid overworking players over the course of a long season. The blowouts haven’t been as frequent as the second half of last season, when the C’s blitzed through the NBA on their way to the Finals. But when the C’s got out to their 21-5 start, they did so off a historically-great offense where the 3-pointers came easy. The Celtics have continually improved their defense this season to what’s now a top-5 ranking in the league. But when the Celtics rain down 3-pointers, it’ll be difficult to beat them. The Celtics take on the Suns at 7:30 p.m. It was more of those same vibes for the C’s as their lead peaked at 49 points Wednesday. The Nets did go on a run to start the second quarter, which prompted While Boston’s shot-making impressed all night, the Celtics’ defense also held the Nets to 40.9% shooting. Boston got out to a huge lead and never looked back in a 139-96 win over Brooklyn on Wednesday at TD Garden.

The Boston Celtics outscored the Brooklyn Nets by 30 points in the first quarter of Wednesday's game and set a franchise record in the process.

[Jayson Tatum](https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/jayson-tatum?b) and [Jaylen Brown](https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/jaylen-brown?b). According to Celtics.com's Taylor Snow, it marked the first time in franchise history that the C's have outscored their opponent by 30 points in the first quarter. They shot 62.1% (18-for-29) from the floor, including 8-for-11 from 3-point range, to outscore the Nets 46-16 in the opening frame.

The occasionally rage-inducing (but effective) practice was popularized by Red Auerbach's Celtics in Hall of Fame big man Bill Russell's prime.

The Boston Celtics erupted for 46 points in the first quarter and didn't let off the gas pedal as they dominated the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night, ...

Jayson Tatum had 31 points and nine rebounds and the NBA-leading Boston Celtics rolled to a 139-96 victory over the short-handed Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday ...

Jordan Poole added 18 points, and Draymond Green had 10 points and 12 rebounds. Jerami Grant had 18 points in the first half, before leaving because of concussion symptoms. Stephen Curry had 29 points and 10 rebounds for Golden State. He scored just four of his 27 points in overtime but was the catalyst in the extra session. Jaylen Brown added 26 points as both of Boston’s stars hit seven 3-pointers in a game the Celtics never trailed and led by 49 points. Kyrie Irving scored 20 points and Cam Thomas added 19 for Brooklyn, which struggled throughout while shooting 41%, including 9 of 39 beyond the arc.

Though Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have produced superstar performances on a near-nightly basis, any given game can provide a breakthrough performance for a ...

… Rob has an unlimited ceiling and the sky’s the limit for him. “For our offense to get to another level, he’s got to be the anchor. He’s really a pass-first guy, but a lot of times we encourage him to take that extra dribble and go over the top of somebody. “Me and Rob are the same age. Just continue to give him those opportunities and encourage him, that’s what’s best for the team. There’s one guy, however, who has garnered praise to the level of Tatum and Brown throughout Boston’s most successful stretches.

The Boston Celtics outscored the Brooklyn Nets by 30 points in the first quarter of Wednesday's game and set a franchise record in the process.

It was a relatively close first quarter, but ultimately, Jayson Tatum came out on top with an 18-16 lead over his Brooklyn Nets opponent -- as in all five ...

Tatum and [Jaylen Brown](/nba/players/2202365/jaylen-brown/) combined for 57 in 61 minutes on the court. If you include the playoffs, the Celtics have now beaten the Nets 10 times in a row. [Celtics](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/BOS/boston-celtics/) roster, and Brooklyn was utterly eviscerated.

The Boston Celtics didn't do much wrong in the opening quarter and breezed to a 139-96 home victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night.

had 18 points and seven rebounds while Eason paired a career-high 20 points with 13 rebounds, including 12 offensive boards, off the bench. Bogdan Bogdanovic had 18 points and Onyeka Okongwu added 17 for Atlanta. Pascal Siakam totaled 21 points, 10 boards and five assists as the Raptors fell to 2-3 on their seven-game road trip. Orlando lost for the third time in four games. The 2018-19 Golden State Warriors hold the NBA record for most points in a first quarter (51). Boston was 18-for-29 from the field (62.1 percent) in the opening frame and led 46-16 after 12 minutes.

RECAP: The Celtics absolutely crushed Kyrie Irving and the Nets, and set a new team record in the process.

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Jaylen Brown started 7-for-9 from 3-point range before missing his last three when the game was all but decided. Brown and Jayson Tatum both hit seven triples, ...

We have to be one of those teams that stands in the way.” He admitted beating the Celtics in Boston would have been meaningful and praised the Celtics for their connectedness and the chip on their shoulder after losing in the Finals last year. I love the game, I love playing, I want to play every game,” Tatum said. That Celtics team, however, increasingly feels like a thing of the distant past. But on the final possession of the quarter, Luke Kornet set a high screen that sent Yuta Watanabe stumbling backward, and Tatum buried the triple before heading to the bench for the rest of the night. So always have that in the back of your mind has been helpful for us since then.” The Celtics set a TD Garden record for 3-pointers made and could have made their second run of the season for the franchise record in a game after they hit 27 in November. I think we did a great job of managing that and focusing on what we were trying to accomplish.” As the third quarter wound down, he was sitting on 28 points and facing the high likelihood that he would not play in the fourth. “I think we did a great job of whoever was in the game, whoever subbed in kept up the intensity,” Tatum said. Brown and Jayson Tatum both hit seven triples, becoming the first teammates in Celtics history to hit seven apiece. Dating back to last year (and including the playoffs), the Celtics have now won 10 straight games against the Nets.

Jayson Tatum scored 31 points and had nine rebounds and the Boston Celtics rolled to a 139-96 win over the short-handed Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night.

Robert Williams III put up 16 points and nine rebounds against the Nets.

That’s a huge bonus for the Celtics, who sprinted out to the league’s best record without Williams in the lineup. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said Williams has gotten better in how defenses are guarding him, and that’s part of the process. “The sky’s the limit for him. Of course, the Celtics will continue to be cautious with their injury prone big man. “I feel like the ceiling for me is no ceiling — especially with the teammates that I have,” Williams said. The win was comforting for the C’s while the [shorthanded Nets went into soul-searching after the beating](https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2023/02/kyrie-irving-vents-about-celtics-after-nets-suffer-embarrassing-beatdown-in-boston.html). The C’s themselves have made those subtle changes with Williams back in the lineup. That was on display Wednesday as Williams was everywhere on his way to 16 points and nine rebounds in just 19 minutes. Williams threw down the first points of the game, courtesy of Jaylen Brown driving to the bucket to break down the defense. “Through my injuries this year, they really helped me just stand on my side and going back to the jump hook or the little jump shots, they encourage it. It’s been a process this entire season for Williams to get back to 100% following knee surgery right before training camp. [their dominant 139-96 win over the Nets](https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2023/02/four-takeaways-as-celtics-dominate-nets-139-96-for-10th-straight-win-over-brooklyn.html) at TD Garden.

Tatum ranks second in the NBA with an average of 37.3 minutes per game, and the Celtics have shown no signs of lightening that load.

It’s easy to come in and work out on the good days, but in the middle of February, when it’s freezing outside, and we lost three in a row, and the sun ain’t come out yet, those are the tougher days. [Marcus Smart](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/marcus-smart-dGLlEXUh7pIPWXUa/), receiving a minor amount of playing time per game more than he did last season, is on pace to average the second-most minutes per game of his career. Tatum, who has already played at least 40 minutes in 11 games (he did so 12 times all of last season), has been asked to do the most. At the same time, I trust his work ethic and I trust the people around him to think that he took what he learned from the finals and was able to apply that in his summer workouts, in his preseason workouts and in his daily approach to how he takes care of himself.” [Al Horford](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/al-horford-1bdxkLwov50QIyiQ/) is averaging his most minutes since 2017-18, the last season of his first stint with the Celtics. Based on his comments Wednesday, he wanted to find a way to stay on the court as much as possible without feeling the effects like he did last season. [NBA](https://theathletic.com/nba/) with an average of 37.3 minutes per game, and the Celtics have shown no signs of lightening that load. “So I trust how he takes care of his body, I trust the people around him, and I trust everything that he does. In addition to a slow start to the regular season, the Celtics needed seven games to beat Considering how the Celtics ran out of steam in the finals last season, the willingness to heap more and more playing time onto Tatum’s wide shoulders has come as a surprise. Instead, Mazzulla and Tatum each expressed faith that the lessons the All-Star took from the crushing end to last season will better prepare him to handle the rigorous physical toll of another deep playoff run — even if he soaks up a whole bunch of minutes along the way. Though Boston still had a quarter to play, the coaches also might have been congratulating Tatum for his role in a big victory.

Jayson Tatum is second in the NBA in minutes per game, but the Celtics star said his body feels great.

There is a fine line, though, where the Celtics will look to keep Tatum fresh for the playoffs while still stacking up wins and minutes in the regular season. “But in the middle of February, when it’s freezing outside, and we lost three in a row, and the sun ain’t come out yet, those are the tougher days. He still poured in 31 points and nine rebounds, but the Celtics didn’t need him to play the fourth quarter. That also means he’s played the fourth-most minutes in the league this season all while he’s also part of the MVP race. “I love the game, I love playing, I want to play every game. Tatum also rarely takes games off as he’s played in 49 of the Celtics’ 52 games this season.

Factor in the rest of Tatum's Celtics roster, and Brooklyn was utterly eviscerated. After 12 minutes of play, the Celtics led the Nets 46-16. It was the biggest ...

Tatum and [Jaylen Brown](/nba/players/2202365/jaylen-brown/) combined for 57 in 61 minutes on the court. If you include the playoffs, the Celtics have now beaten the Nets 10 times in a row. [Celtics](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/BOS/boston-celtics/) roster, and Brooklyn was utterly eviscerated.

During an otherwise drama-free night for the Celtics at TD Garden, ball boy Octavio Cruz provided the entertainment when he had to dash off the court to ...

On the NBC Sports Boston broadcast, Cruz, nicknamed, "Ocho," earned both a Tommy Point for his hustle and high praise from analyst Brian Scalabrine. "The way he moves, the way his body moves. Cruz avoided interfering with the play (Watanabe got fouled on his layup attempt). And the awareness side, because he was able to turn his head, see the blockers coming, and he was able to get around them. [On a night that otherwise lacked for drama](https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/celtics-vs-nets-takeaways-cs-rain-3s-set-franchise-records-blowout-win?b), it was the most exhilarating and memorable sequence of the game. Poor Cruz was maybe a step inside the 3-point arc when he realized play was streamrolling his way.

Visit ESPN for the game recap of the Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics NBA basketball game on February 1, 2023.

Warren](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2982334/tj-warren) (left shin contusion), who both sat for the third straight game. [Kyrie Irving](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/6442/kyrie-irving) scored 20 points and [Cam Thomas](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4432174/cam-thomas) added 19 for Brooklyn, which struggled throughout while shooting 41%, including 9 of 39 beyond the arc. [Jayson Tatum](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4065648/jayson-tatum) scored 31 points and had nine rebounds and the [Boston Celtics](http://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/bos/boston-celtics) rolled to a 139-96 win over the short-handed [Brooklyn Nets](http://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/bkn/brooklyn-nets) on Wednesday night. The Nets dropped to 4-7 since [Kevin Durant](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3202/kevin-durant) sprained his right knee on Jan. “Tonight I felt like we were just one of those teams in the way, and you know, we just can't be one of those teams in the way. [Jaylen Brown](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3917376/jaylen-brown) added 26 points as both of Boston’s stars knocked down seven 3-pointers in a game the Celtics never trailed and led by as many as 49 points.

In the last month of the team's calendar, offensive rating has fallen precipitously -- particularly since the absence of veteran point guard Marcus Smart ...

Kyrie Irving thought the Nets entered Wednesday's game against the Celtics with the wrong mindset, and it showed with one of Boston's most lopsided wins of ...

Yes, the Nets were missing Kevin Durant, Ben Simmons and others. But that's not a 43-point difference. The Celtics came out focused right from the jump, never ...

He probably could have done it even earlier, but coming off three days without a game, it was good to let the regulars run wild a bit. The Celtics were so good that Joe Mazzulla was able to empty his bench after the third quarter. This play was emblematic of just how lost the Nets were. Every one of those plays happened in the first quarter. The Celtics got the Nets in rotation a lot. There’s one thing all of the above clips have in common. He stayed rooted to the corner and the ball found its way to him: Jaylen Brown was feeling good in the first quarter. One of the best parts of that is when a teammate gets set up for a shot and the very next time down the floor, they repay the favor. The best part of basketball is when the ball moves and the team is clicking together. There was no passive play out of the guys in green. Boston was up 46-16 after the first quarter.

Philadelphia 76ers fans, however, have the grounds to maintain some ill will toward the Florida product. After playing the first nine seasons of his ...

He also was a complete non-factor for the Sixers in their short-lived playoff run that season, which was a big reason why Philadelphia was handily swept by Boston in the first round. The majority of Green Teamers didn’t view it as an Allen-level of betrayal from Horford, but there had to have been the thought in Boston that the do-it-all power forward was going to be a major roadblock for an ascending Celtics team. Those feelings likely were felt in Philadelphia in the 2017-18 playoffs after the 76ers made quick work of the Miami Heat in the first round. Horford nearly averaged a double-double across 24 playoff games that summer, including a 30-point game in Milwaukee and a 26-point outburst in Golden State. With Joel Embiid and 2018 Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons leading the way, it felt like the Sixers were on their way to becoming the top dog in the Eastern Conference. Playing alongside the perpetually clutch Isaiah Thomas, Horford helped Boston regain legitimate contender status after the rough years that followed the departures of Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.

The Boston Celtics may decide that their roster needs a little more punch off of the bench ahead of the 2023 NBA trade deadline arriving a week from today ...

The Celtics could use big man insurance ahead of the NBA trade deadline, and they're reportedly considering the possibility of a reunion with Jazz forward ...

"To be able to have this six on (my) jersey means the world to me," shared Brown of the Celtics great's influence on his life.

The Celtics are thin at the center position outside of Robert Williams III and Al Horford, and president of basketball operations Brad Stevens reportedly is ...

[acquire the Canadian center](https://nesn.com/2023/01/celtics-rumors-could-boston-target-kelly-olynyk-return/). He [is averaging](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/olynyke01.html) 11.7 points per game on 40.6% 3-point shooting, along with 4.9 rebounds. He was a contributor for the Stevens-led teams and played with Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown. [acquired Olynyk](https://nesn.com/2022/09/danny-ainge-makes-another-trade-reunites-with-former-celtic/) this past offseason in a reunion with former Celtics executive Danny Ainge. “Olynyk is a guy they have interest in, but I doubt if that will happen,” a source told Heavy. The Utah Jazz big man started his career with the Celtics before playing four seasons with Miami.

The Gonzaga alum who sent the Celtics to the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals, erupting for 26 points on the TD Garden parquet in Game 7 of the conference ...

Through the Curbside Care initiative, the Boston Celtics and Boston Medical Center are providing mobile healthcare unit for newborn babies.

The show of support has been incredible.” “The Shamrock Foundation has been a fabulous partner in this,” Nass said. The baby gets seen in pediatrics, the mom gets seen in obstetrics. Derrick White and Grant Williams were there to celebrate and interact with patients. She said those conversations led the committee to focus on access to health care. We can do all the same things you could do if you came in to see the doctor at the clinic.”

Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley came up with a Boston Celtics trade proposal swapping Payton Pritchard and salary filler for a starting center.

[Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10063761-celtics-complete-2023-nba-trade-deadline-preview-predictions) came up with a mock trade that plays off that idea, swapping Pritchard, salary filler, and draft considerations for a starting center. As solid and consistent Plumlee is, he doesn’t offer a different skillset from Robert Williams — which would be ideal for a low cost, but this isn’t worth pursuing for a team with limited other resources to improve. “(Jakob Poeltl) is an excellent interior anchor, sure, but he’d be the third big man for the Celtics and needs a new deal this summer.

When healthy, Poeltl wouldn't start over Rob Williams, who many Boston players and coaches have called “the most important Celtic” in recent days. And it's ...

He’s a bit more in-tune with the players and the locker room. The guys all see Gallo busting his tail to get back and it would sting to see him traded after all he’s been through. He wants to win, but he’s a free agent in the summer. The coaches and front office keep pushing him to add to his game. Gallinari isn’t giving up hope on playing this season, but sources say no one from the Celtics is pushing him to play, nor do they expect he will play. We’ve had talks and asked ‘Can you add that much in taxes?’ and been told it isn’t even the slightest concern. One rival team told CelticsBlog, “Boston has always been hesitant to add too much salary and to push into the tax. The One individual close to the Poeltl situation said, “He’s in a tough spot. One source said the teams haven’t talked about a deal sending Poeltl from San Antonio to Boston since early in December, before Rob Williams returned. That’s in addition to the previously reported interest from the [Golden State Warriors](https://www.goldenstateofmind.com). Another person close to the situation insisted that Pritchard hasn’t made an issue of his minutes.

The Boston Celtics reportedly value Payton Pritchard quite highly, throwing cold water on the possibility of a deadline deal.

The West All-Star reserves include Paul George (Los Angeles Clippers), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder), Jaren Jackson Jr and Ja Morant (Memphis ...

Bulpett heard from a source close to the Heat organization that the two 2022 Eastern Conference finals opponents are both looking to land Olynyk to complement ...

to pursue someone that fits into the Dennis Schroder TPE. “Olynyk is a guy they have interest in, but I doubt if that will happen. [Heavy’s Steve Bulpett](https://heavy.com/sports/miami-heat/kelly-olynyk-nba-trade-deadline/) revealed the latest tea about the C’s pursuit of Olynyk, who now plays for the Utah Jazz, aka the team that employs former Boston general manager Danny Ainge as its president.

He'll join Jayson Tatum, who was voted as a starter, as well as Joe Mazzulla and the rest of the Celtics coaching staff for the All-Star festivities in Salt ...

“I think I have a main reason, of just how connected they are and how much they played together, how many minutes they’ve logged in together, and again, that chip on their shoulder. “It’s clear as day they want to win a championship and they’re not wasting any time in the regular season, so tonight I felt like we were just one of those teams in the way and we just can’t be one of those teams in the way. We have to be one of those teams that stands up to them and at least shows them that we’re going to be competition for them moving forward, which I believe we are, but tonight we just didn’t show it.” “He’s doing a better job of understanding how teams are guarding him, what the coverage is and how to play versus it. Irving almost sounded a little jealous of the Celtics. It’s been six weeks since Williams returned from knee surgery and though he’s missed a handful of games since, he feels like his conditioning is back to normal. “He’s a huge key to our offense if we want to get to where we want to get to,” Mazzulla said. He sealed, he created gaps, he created small 2-on-1s, he did a great job against smalls on the offensive glass and he really helped our switch attack. While his re-acclimation to the lineup since returning in December hasn’t always been smooth, Wednesday offered a blueprint of what the Celtics are hoping for. On Thursday night, the Celtics’ seventh-year wing was selected to his second career All-Star game, as he was chosen by NBA coaches as a reserve. He’ll join Jayson Tatum, who was voted as a starter, as well as Joe Mazzulla and the rest of the Celtics coaching staff for the All-Star festivities in Salt Lake City, Utah. He’s enjoying a career year, averaging a career-high 27.0 points and 7.1 rebounds per game for the first-place C’s.

That makes sense given Boston's lack of a 2023 first-round pick and difficult path to matching Olynyk's $12.8-million salary. Combining Luke Kornet, Payton ...

Interest in such a trade makes sense if Boston feels the need to position themselves to potentially lose, or even move on from Williams if they don’t picture themselves retaining him. Or set the stage for a smaller addition from Utah, like Vanderbilt. Acquiring Olynyk would mark the first move between Ainge and Stevens’ front offices since Ainge departed the Celtics in an apparent retirement in 2021, before soon becoming Utah’s CEO. The Heat, who made the Finals with Olynyk in 2020, face similar limitations, but can offer their 2023 first-rounder. Duncan Robinson, Miami’s main salary filler, arguably plays on a worse contract than Gallinari’s unless the Jazz see value in rejuvenating his career. Brad Stevens coached the seven-footer for four seasons where he averaged 9.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG and 1.7 APG on 47.7% shooting, capping his career with an all-time memorable Game 7 performance against the Wizards where he scored 26 points in a 115-105 win. The Jazz seem poised to sell while much of the league looks to buy, protecting some of their more valuable young players like Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler and Ochai Agbaji. They own Minnesota and Philadelphia’s first-round picks this year, plus their own, among many others into the future. [Steve Bulpett of Heavy indicated the Heat and the Celtics are interested Jazz forward Kelly Olynyk](https://heavy.com/sports/miami-heat/kelly-olynyk-nba-trade-deadline/) 10 years after Boston drafted him No. [Celtics](https://www.celticsblog.com) might view a former player from their teams that just began winning after the Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce trade as the final piece of their next championship roster. Especially since the Jazz would need to waive two players in that case. He’s their third big right now, and they’re looking for a fourth or fifth big, not necessarily a third big.

The Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets have a rival history that dates back to when the fellow Eastern Conference squad resided in New Jersey.

In 2001, his final campaign with New Jersey, he made his first career All-Star Game and averaged a career-high 23.9 points and shot 44.1% from the field. Garnett suffered a leg injury, Boston was eliminated in seven games against the Magic in the conference semifinals and Marbury’s NBA career had reached its end once and for all. Boston signed Marbury after he cleared waivers with the Knicks and once the Celtics were done dusting off the confetti from their NBA title over the Lakers. Over the course of the next 12 seasons, Johnson made five All-Star Games and average over 20 points on five consecutive occasions with the Hawks. Anderson averaged 12.7 points and shot 40% from the field with 5.3 assists in the series, which served as the end of his best years. Johnson crossed paths with Pierce and Garnett following the iconic blockbuster for a 2013-14 run. In 2001, the Celtics selected Johnson with the 10th overall pick in the NBA draft. As opposed to allowing Johnson to grow into the seven-time All-Star he became and play alongside Pierce for years to come, the Celtics elected to take an alternative route and foolishly make of the franchise’s worst decisions. While he did show signs of promise, the Celtics would be the team where Anderson hit a downward spiral, which reduced him to a shell of what he once was with the Nets, Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trailblazers. That garnered attention and early reputation prompted New Jersey to take a chance on him with the second overall pick in the 1991 NBA Draft. In 1994, Anderson notched his first and only NBA All-Star appearance, which was heavily a result of the confidence instilled in him by former head coach Chuck Daly. “The Big Ticket,” who only played six of his 21 NBA seasons with the Celtics, didn’t need much time to go down as one of the all-time greats in Boston’s history.

BOSTON — Jayson Tatum scored 31 points and had nine rebounds and the Boston Celtics rolled to a 139-96 win over the short-handed Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday ...