Celtics prevailed 109-98 over the Nets

The absence of Jaylen Brown and Al Horford from the Boston Celtics' starting lineup against the Brooklyn Nets gave the visitors a modest advantage because Durant wasn’t playing. But it wouldn't matter since Boston's team ultimately put out a genuine team effort, with the Celtics prevailing 109-98 over the Nets.

Up until the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, the game remained tight. Boston's 48-32 rebounding advantage was one of the game's undeniable advantages. On the way to a 31-12 record, strong performances from Marcus Smart (16 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists), Malcolm Brogdon (16 points, 5 rebounds), and Grant Williams (12 points, 5 boards, 3 blocks) helped cover the absence of Brown and Horford. Jayson Tatum (20 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists despite having a bad shooting night.