Boston Celtics’ stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, as well as Brooklyn Nets’ stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, struggled in the Celtics’ 114-107 Game 2 victory over the Nets on Wednesday night.
“They’re playing two, three guys off me sometimes on me when I’m off the ball,” Durant said after the game, via ESPN.
Durant had 27 points, four rebounds, five assists, and six turnovers on 4-17 shooting from the field, 1-2 shooting from three, and 18-20 shooting from the line.
“We’re going against the No. 1 team in defense in the league – they’ve proven it, so it’s not going to be easy, but it can be done,” Irving said.
Irving had 10 points, eight rebounds, one assist, and two turnovers on 4-13 shooting from the field, 0-1 shooting from three, and 2-2 shooting from the line.
The Celtics received game-changing contributions from several of their role players – including Grant Williams who had 17 points and six rebounds on 100% shooting, and Payton Pritchard who had eight points in the fourth quarter – but stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown had difficulty getting open all night.
Tatum had 19 points, six rebounds, 10 assists, and three turnovers on 5-16 shooting from the field, 2-5 shooting from three, and 7-8 shooting from the line.
Brown had 22 points, four rebounds, six assists, and four turnovers on 9-18 shooting from the field, 2-6 shooting from three, and 2-3 shooting from the line.
Tatum and Brown combined for 16 assists and seven turnovers.
Durant and Irving combined for six assists and eight turnovers.
Tatum and Brown’s improved ball-facilitating could be viewed as the difference maker in Game 2.