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Hello Three Game Win Streak! Jack's 27 Help Nets Climb Back and Defeat Celtics, 109-107

By Anthony Puccio
Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

When the Nets moved to Brooklyn and signed Deron Williams and Brook Lopez to max deals, could you ever envision they'd be coming off the bench? That's right, the most expensive team in the NBA now has the most expensive bench in the league after Lionel Hollins announced  Lopez and Williams would come off the bench vs. the Boston Celtics. The replacements, however, guided the Nets to victory.

For the second straight game, a Mason Plumlee and-one jolted the Nets into something bigger.

The Nets were down nine at the 7:50 mark of the fourth quarter, when Plumlee's and-one sparked a 7-0 run for Brooklyn to bring their deficit down to two. It was the play that gave Brooklyn all of their momentum, and ultimately led them to a 109-107 victory in Boston. The Nets climbed back late in the game despite trailing by 12. It marks the largest deficit they've overcome in a win this season.

Plumlee finished the night with 14 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists and and one block in 36 minutes on 6-for-7 shooting. It's his sixth double-double of the season and fifth in the last eight games. The Nets are 5-3 in those games.

The team has now won three straight games, despite starting the season 1-13 in games in which they've trailed through three quarters. This marks their second straight victory when trailing after three. They stand at 13-15 on the season ... and in seventh place in the East.

The Nets took the lead at 106-104 following a Jarrett Jack jump shot with 27 seconds remaining. Boston missed, and it was up to Brooklyn to seal the deal at the line; which they didn't. Joe Johnson missed one of two free throws, enabling Boston to tie or win with 1.5 seconds on the clock down two. Gerald Wallace then heaved a full-court pass to Jared Sullinger, who barely missed on a game-tying fadeaway jumper as time expired. It was a wild ending that saw the Nets outscore Boston 30-21 after being outscored 30-23 in the third quarter, a disadvantage that put the Nets down 13 at one point.

"That's the best shot you can get; 1.5 seconds on the clock and that close to the rim. Gerald [Wallace] threw a hell of a pass," Sullinger said after the game.

It was Brooklyn's resilience late in this game that led to triumph. Alan Anderson chipped in 10 points in the fourth quarter which helped Brooklyn fight their way back, but it was really Jarrett Jack who anchored Brooklyn to victory. Jack, who started in place for the (now healthy) Deron Williams, finished with 27 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. This comes a game after he went off for 18 points and seven assists vs. the Denver Nuggets.

Brooklyn shot 49% from the field and 33% from the field. Boston on the other hand, shot 51.7% from the field and 37.5% from three. It wasn't much of a dominant aspect of the game, but free throws most certainly were. The Nets hit on 20 of their 28 free throw attempts, which doubled Boston's eight free throws.

Jeff Green tried to hold down the fort for Boston with a 12-point effort in the fourth quarter, but it just wasn't enough to top the Nets' heavy offensive outburst. Green finished with 22 points, five assists and three rebounds.

After the game, D-Will addressed both coming off the bench ... and trade rumors.

"I'm still trying to get my rhythm back and obviously I'm on a minutes restriction right now, so I'm all for it." he said. as for rumors that he could be dealt to Sacramento, Williams wasn't talking.  "When a trade happens, then I’ll talk about trade rumors because then it would actually be a trade."

The Nets look to extend their win streak at home Saturday night vs. the Indiana Pacers.

The hero of the day was clearly in high spirits after the game:

Quarter by quarter summary:

First quarter ... Mason Plumlee and Brook Lopez played side-by-side for the first time of the season, something that's been talked about a lot since the emergence of Plumlee. It didn't seem to work, though. With the two on the floor at the same time, the Celtics went on a 14-4 run, capturing control of the game and taking a 23-19 lead early. Overall, it was a 20-12 advantage that gave the Celtics a 29-28 lead after the first quarter. Brooklyn allowed Boston to shoot 60% behind 12 points from Jeff Green on 5-for-6 shooting.

Second quarter ... Deron Williams started the second quarter for Brooklyn after missing two straight games with a calf injury. His right leg was heavily wrapped as we watched in the first. He logged eight minutes and scored three points on 3-of-4 shooting from the free throw line. Jarrett Jack, starting in Williams' place, led all Nets' scorers with 11 points and four assists.

Mason Plumlee was also a force for Brooklyn as he had another double-double looming. Providing the Nets with much-needed energy, Plumlee scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds in 19 minutes. It would be his sixth double-double of the season and fifth in his last eight games. Talk about developing.

Brooklyn's main concern was their defense. The Celtics shot 55% from the field, with more than half of their points coming from inside the paint. Jeff Green was Boston's anchor with 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting.

Score at the half: Nets 56, Celtics 56.

Third quarter ... The Nets struggled early. They allowed the Celtics to go on a 13-2 run which gave them their largest lead of the night at 13. It was temporary. The Nets answered with an 8-0 run behind Jarrett Jack's 21 points, six rebounds and five assists with 10 of his points coming in the third quarter alone.

The Celtics looked to be breaking away from the Nets every now and again, but the Nets kept their head above water. Despite committing 14 turnovers and allowing Boston to shoot 53.7% from the field, Brooklyn found themselves right in the game. They trailed, 86-79 after being outscored 30-23. It could've and should've been a lot worse.

Fourth quarter ... For the second straight game, a Mason Plumlee and-one jolted the Nets into something bigger. Down nine, Plumlee's and-one at the 7:50 mark of the fourth quarter sparked a 7-0 run for Brooklyn to bring their deficit down to two. It was the play that gave Brooklyn all of their momentum. And to make thing's better for Plumlee and the Nets, he notched his 10th rebound of the game, which gives his six double-doubles on the year and his fifth in his last eight games played.

Alan Anderson stepped up to the plate, late. He scored 10-fourth quarter points for Brooklyn, tying the game at 104 with 30 seconds remaining. Jarrett Jack then nailed a jumper to take the lead with 27 seconds remaining. It was Jarrett Jack's night.

Boston saw their deficit at two with 1.5 seconds left with no timeouts remaining. They heaved the ball to Jared Sullinger downcourt, who rimbed out on a contested-fadeaway jump shot.

Final score: Nets 109, Celtics 107.

For more on the Boston Celtics, check them out at CelticsBlog.

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