Down to the Nets by as much as nine points in the third , the Celtics launched a smothering defense that held New Jersey to ten points in the fourth and turned what could have been a Nets upset into a late collapse. The defense permitted the Celtics to achieve a 23 point turn around over the game's last 18 minutes including a 16-0 run.
The Nets went down by 15 in the first quarter, then tied the game at halftime before moving nine up halfway through the third. Then, the Celtics turned it on and won going away. Paul Pierce led the way, finishing with 31 points. The two other members of the Big Three, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett split 26.
For the Nets, It was Brook Lopez with 18 points but only 5 rebounds, Devin Harris with 16 points and five assists and Anthony Morrow with 16, including three for six from deep.
- Boxscore - NBA.com
- Pierce scores 31 to lead Celtics past Nets 94-80 - Jimmy Golen - AP
- Nets lose final game before All-Star break to Celtics, 94-80 - Colin Stephenson - Star-Ledger
- Nets wilt down stretch vs. Celtics - Fred Kerber - New York Post
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Nets play it safe with James - Fred Kerber - New York Post
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In the end, Nets can't keep up with Celtics, 94-80 - Al Iannazzone - The Record
- Post Game Plus (Video) - Bob Lorenz - YES Network
- Brook Lopez Interview (Video) - Jessica Taff - YES Network
- Sasha Vujacic Interview (Video) - Jessica Taff - YES Network
- Avery Johnson Press Conference (Video) - YES Network
- Pre-Game: Avery Johnson Interview (Video) - Jessica Taff - YES Network
- Pierce ignites Celtics - Frank Dell'Apa - Boston Globe
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Celtics break out a win - Mark Murphy - Boston Herald
- Paul Pierce back to old self - Steve Bulpett - Boston Herald
- Celtics-Nets highlights (Video) - Boston Globe
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Postgame notes: Home invasion - Chris Forsberg - ESPN Boston
- Rapid reaction: Celtics 94, Nets 80 - Chris Forsberg - ESPN Boston
- Pierce is Pierce Again as Celtics Head Into Break - Jimmy Toscano - CelticsBlog
- Celtics cut down Nets in fourth quarter, 94-80 - Jessica Camerato - CSNNE.com
- Pierce feeling better with 31 points vs. Nets - Jessica Camerato - CSNNE.com
- Fast Break: Paul Pierce, Celtics take down Nets - Ben Rohrbach - WEEI
- Sasha Vujacic: Celtics ‘trying to act up’ - Ben Rohrbach - WEEI
- Celtics 94, Nets 80: Resurgent Pierce leads Celtics to victory - Tim Britton - Providence Journal
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Pierce goes from woeful to wonderful in Boston win - Agence France Presse