Once again, the Nets played tough against a strong opponent. And once again, they came up just a little bit short, falling to 5-10 with a 89-83 loss in Boston on Wednesday night.
The Nets held the Celtics to 38 points in the first half and led by 10 points after the first possession of the third quarter. But while Boston didn't exactly turn it on offensively, the Nets scored just 19 points over the next 18-plus minutes.
When Jordan Farmar ended the drought with 5:35 to go in the fourth, the Nets were down just two, but Devin Harris missed a contested jumper on their one opportunity to get the lead back and Paul Pierce put them away in the final minutes.
The Nets shot 46 percent from the field, but made just four of their 14 threes and turned the ball over 18 times. Harris led the Nets with 20 points on 6-for-10 from the field and Anthony Morrow added 18 on 7-for-11. Brook Lopez finished with 16 points, but shot just 5-for-14 from the field. On the other end of the floor, the Nets couldn't stop Shaquille O'Neal, who made nine of his 10 shots and led all scorers with 25 points.
- Boxscore - NBA.com
- Game Highlights (Video) - NBA.com
- Celtics lose West, but Shaq leads them past Nets - Jimmy Golen - AP
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Nets-Celtics notebook - Brian Robb - NBA.com
- Nets fall to Boston, 89-83, losing three of last four games - Colin Stephenson - Star-Ledger
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O'Neal, late miscues cause Jersey's downfall - Fred Kerber - New York Post
- Nets watch Shaq turn back the clock as Celtics win - Al Iannazzone - The Record
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Late struggles cost Nets again - Al Iannazzone - The Nets Insider
- Post-Game Plus (Video) - Chris Shearn - YES Network
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From the Booth (Video) - Ian Eagle & Jim Spanarkel - YES Network
- Avery Johnson Press Conference (Video) - YES Network
- Pre-Game - Avery Johnson Interview (Video) - Jessica Taff - YES Network
- Celtics’ big guns make a three-point landing vs. Nets - Gary Washburn - Boston Globe
- O’Neal helps Celtics to win, but they lose West - Gary Washburn - Boston Globe
- West replacement not a given - Gary Washburn - Boston Globe
- Shaquille O’Neal comes up with gigantic effort - Mark Murphy - Boston Herald
- Celtics’ guard down, Marquis Daniels points way - Mark Murphy - Boston Herald
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Tough break for Delonte West - Steve Buckley - Boston Herald
- Shaq powers Celtics past Nets, 89-83 - Jessica Cammerata - Comcast SportsNet
- Rondo sits vs. Nets, doubtful for Friday - Jessica Cammerata - Comcast SportsNet
- First impressions: Celtics 89, Nets 83 - Boston Celtics Blog - Chris Forsberg - ESPN Boston
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Postgame notes: Turning back the clock - Chris Forsberg - ESPN Boston
- Boston Celtics find strength in unlikely places after Delonte West breaks wrist - Chris Forsberg - ESPN Boston
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Shaquille O'Neal, Celtics Band Together to Take Down Nets Despite Losing Delonte West - Evans Clinchy - NESN
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Shaquille O’Neal: C’s are ‘best team I’ve been on’ (Video) - Mike Petraglia - WEEI
- Bradley finally ready to play some minutes - Bill Doyle - Worcester Telegram
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Shaq Makes, Delonte Breaks, Celtics Rip Nets - Jimmy Toscano - Celtics Blog
- Delonte West breaks wrist - Kurt Helin - NBC Sports
- Delonte West, Celtics Guard, Breaks Wrist - FanHouse
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Photo Gallery - Nets vs. Celtics - AP