Game 1 of the series between the Brooklyn Nets and the Boston Celtics is an early contender for Game of the Playoffs, with the Celtics coming away with a 115-114 win. Will the Nets take Game 2 and prevent a 0-2 deficit? Or will the Celtics dig Brooklyn a deeper hole? Check out our preview below of Game 2 of Nets vs. Celtics 2022 NBA Playoffs game.
Game 1 ended in agony for the Nets. But the good news for them is that there is still a long way to go in the first round. Brooklyn got 39 points from Kyrie Irving despite a slow start from the talented point guard. Kevin Durant had 23 points on just 9/24 shooting and could also be partly blamed for the game-winning shot of Jayson Tatum. Brooklyn is going to go for Durant and Irving no matter what on offense. It’s on the other areas where the Nets have to improve after Game 1. Take for example rebounding. They were outrebounded by Boston in the series opener, 43-29, and that’s despite the Celtics missing Robert Williams III. Andre Drummond has something to prove about that after coming up with just four boards in Game 1. Even with the shortcomings, the Nets lost by just a point, so Game 2 bodes well for Brooklyn.
The Nets are 9-3-1 against the spread in their last 13 road games.
Boston’s best player came up with the best play at the best moment in Game 1, as Tatum scored off a Marcus Smart assist just before the buzzer to deliver a victory for the Celtics. Tatum finished with 31 points, while Jaylen Brown and Smart had 23 and 20 points, respectively. Al Horford made the Nets remember his name, as he put up a double-double of 20 points and 15 rebounds. Horford can still play, showing that he can cover the void temporarily left by Williams. Boston allowed 114 points to the Nets, but the Celtics’ defense still made the Nets’ offense get suffocated a number of times. Smart, Brown, and Tatum are great perimeter defense with active hands in the passing lanes, while Horford and Daniel Theis know how to protect the rim.
The Celtics are 20-8-1 against the spread in their last 29 games versus a team with a winning record.
