It was a chilly Friday night in Boston, but the action inside TD Garden was just heating up as the Boston Celtics (38-20) hosted the Brooklyn Nets (15-43) for their fourth and final clash of the 2025-26 NBA regular season. With tipoff at 7:30 p.m. ET, fans packed the arena, eager to see if the Celtics could bounce back from a tough defeat out west and if the Nets could finally halt their spiraling losing streak.
This matchup, broadcast live on YES and NBC Sports Boston, came with plenty of storylines. The Celtics, sitting second in the Eastern Conference, were fresh off a 3-1 Western road swing, but their return home was marred by a lopsided 103-84 loss to the Denver Nuggets just two nights prior. Jaylen Brown was the lone bright spot in that contest, tallying 23 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists. Boston’s faithful hoped that the familiar comforts of TD Garden would spark a return to form.
Meanwhile, the Nets rolled into Boston in the throes of a six-game losing streak, having dropped 16 of their past 19 contests. Their most recent stumble, a 126-111 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, only deepened the gloom. Brooklyn was also playing the second night of a back-to-back, an unenviable task for any team—let alone one with the NBA’s youngest roster and a front office clearly eyeing the lottery.
Looking at the history between these two teams, the Celtics had the upper hand, leading the all-time series 147-75 and boasting a dominant 77-35 record at home. This season, the rivalry had been unexpectedly competitive. Boston took the first meeting 113-99 in Brooklyn back in November, but the Nets stunned the Celtics at TD Garden just days later with a 113-105 victory. Their third showdown was a double-overtime thriller, with Boston eventually prevailing 130-126. Would this final chapter bring another surprise?
With Jayson Tatum still sidelined by an Achilles injury, the Celtics’ starting lineup featured Derrick White, Baylor Scheierman, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, and Neemias Queta. Boston’s depth remained a strength, with Payton Pritchard, Nikola Vucevic, and Jordan Walsh all ready to contribute off the bench. Head coach Joe Mazzulla emphasized the need for focus and intensity, especially after the team’s defensive lapses in Denver. "We have to shake off the road fatigue and get back to our identity," Mazzulla said before the game.
For the Nets, head coach Jordi Fernandez deployed Michael Porter Jr., Noah Clowney, Nic Claxton, Egor Demin, and Nolan Traore as his starters. Porter Jr. had been the lone consistent offensive threat for Brooklyn, averaging 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game while launching nearly ten three-pointers a night. Noah Clowney and Nic Claxton also provided solid support, with Clowney averaging 12.9 points and Claxton adding 12.6 points and 4.7 boards. Brooklyn’s bench, featuring the likes of Ziaire Williams and Day’Ron Sharpe, was young and energetic but lacked experience.
Statistically, the Celtics entered the night as heavy favorites. Sportsbooks set the spread at Celtics -17.5, with some outlets even bumping it to -18.5 by game time. Boston’s moneyline hovered at -1450, while the Nets were massive underdogs at +850. The over/under was set around 208 points, reflecting Boston’s strong defense and Brooklyn’s offensive struggles. The Celtics boasted the league’s second-best offensive rating and allowed the fewest points per game (107.5), while the Nets ranked dead last in points scored (107.0) and near the bottom in both offensive and defensive efficiency.
Yet, as Celtics fans know all too well, no NBA game is a foregone conclusion. The last time Brooklyn visited, they walked away with a rare victory, and in their most recent duel, it took Boston two extra periods to escape with a win. The Celtics’ focus was clear: avoid underestimating an opponent desperate for a morale boost. "We can’t afford to take them lightly," Jaylen Brown warned in the pregame presser. "They play hard, and we have to match that energy from the jump."
Boston’s keys to the game were straightforward: play suffocating defense, dominate the glass, and push the pace. The Celtics ranked fifth in rebounding, pulling down 46 boards per game, while the Nets were last with just 40.3. Neemias Queta, shooting an impressive 63.9% from the floor, was expected to anchor the paint, while Derrick White and Payton Pritchard looked to set the tone in the backcourt. Without Tatum, Brown’s scoring and leadership were more crucial than ever. His season averages—29.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.8 assists—put him firmly in the spotlight.
Brooklyn’s hopes rested on Michael Porter Jr.’s hot hand and the continued growth of their young core. Porter had torched Boston in previous meetings, averaging 29 points and shooting over 56% from the field. Clowney and Claxton, too, had found some success against the Celtics’ front line. But the Nets’ biggest challenge was simply putting the ball in the basket. Their shooting percentages were among the league’s worst, and on the second night of a back-to-back, tired legs could make matters worse.
Trade deadline moves added some intrigue, with Brooklyn acquiring Ochai Agbaji from Toronto and Josh Minott from Boston. The Nets also waived Cam Thomas, further signaling a commitment to youth and development. For the Celtics, the acquisition of Nikola Vucevic at the deadline provided another veteran presence, and he’d already averaged 9.9 points and 7.7 rebounds in his first seven games in green.
As the teams took the floor, the crowd’s energy was palpable. Boston fans, eager to see their team rebound from a rare blowout loss, made their presence felt early and often. The Celtics, mindful of the "trap game" narrative, came out aggressive, attacking the rim and locking down on defense. Brooklyn, despite their struggles, played with the energy of a team with nothing to lose.
At the time of writing, the game is still underway, with both teams battling for momentum. The Celtics are aiming to extend their home dominance and keep pace near the top of the Eastern Conference, while the Nets are searching for a spark to end their losing skid and build some positivity for their young roster. No matter the outcome, this final regular season meeting between Boston and Brooklyn is another intriguing chapter in an evolving rivalry.
With the action ongoing, fans across Boston and Brooklyn are glued to their screens, waiting to see if the Celtics can deliver the expected blowout or if the Nets have one more surprise in store. As the clock ticks down at TD Garden, one thing is certain: in the NBA, you never know until the final buzzer sounds.