Celtics snap Nets win streak as they lose 91-84

The last time the Nets faced off in Boston this season, it was the return of Kevin Garnett & Paul Pierce to the place they used to call home. Tonight, however, Brooklyn visited Boston, while riding a four game win streak behind the hot play of Deron Williams, as they looked to continue their rise in the Eastern Conference standings against the struggling Celtics.

After a terrible shooting display from behind the perimeter, the Nets lost to the Celtics 91-84. The loss snaps the Nets four game win streak, along with bringing them back down to .500.

In the four game win streak, the Nets have gotten off to hot starts in almost all of them. It looked to be a different story tonight, however, as they struggled early. Despite shooting 8-12 from inside the arc, they shot 0-8 from beyond the arc, proving to hurt their offensive rhythm. As for defense, the Nets forced 8 early turnovers, but the Celtics were still demanding the pace behind Rajon Rondo's 13 points.

Boston held a 26-20 lead after the first quarter of play. They out rebounded Brooklyn 15-3, which looked to be another tough night on the boards for the Nets.

Starting the second quarter, the Nets looked very bad. The quarter started with a 15-4 Celtics advantage, as the Nets found themselves down 17 through the first 5 minutes of the second quarter. It was the Celtics largest lead of the half.

The same theme continued throughout the second quarter. The Celtics finished off the half with a 27-14 rebound advantage, while the Nets shot 0-16 from behind the perimeter. Yes, 0-17, mostly uncontested threes. The only thing that kept the Nets somewhat in this game: scrappy defense. They had 7 steals & forced 13 turnovers.

Still, they allowed the lowly Boston Celtics to score 53 points, as they trailed 53-41 after the first half. Rajon Rondo led all scorers with 16 points & 5 rebounds.

Quick first half stat: The Nets shot just 6-21 (28%) in the second quarter, 0-9 from three point land.

It took 27 minutes, 18 shots (from beyond the arc) for the Nets to finally hit their first three of the game. Thanks to Deron Williams, the Nets ended their dry spell from deep. From that point on it looked like the Nets may turn things around, but it seemed to be a quick mirage. Boston grabbed their largest lead of the night (18), at the 8:23 mark in the third quarter.

After taking a hard hit from Kris Humphries, Paul Pierce re-injured his neck and was forced to sit out the rest of the third quarter.

Deron Williams heated up in the third. He scored 8 points on 3-3 shooting, but due to foul trouble, he had to take a seat earlier than usual. Still, the Nets worked their way back into the game. Following an exhilarating and-one from Marcus Thornton, the Nets cut the deficit down to two with 2:02 remaining in the quarter. Unfortunately for the Nets, It didn't last very long, as Boston finished the quarter on a 6-0 run -- leading the Nets, 78-70 heading into the fourth quarter.

Everything the Nets needed to do to start the fourth, they didn't. They had just one point through the midway point of the fourth quarter, on 0-7 shooting. It wasn't pretty. 82-71 with six minutes remaining in Boston's favor.

It never happened for the Nets. No runs, nor stops needed to come back in this one. The dagger: a three point ball from Jerryd Bayless to put the Celtics up 91-79 with 2:23 remaining. The Nets finished the game an awful 4-30(11%) from the three point line. Along with that, they were out rebounded 51-28.

Sometimes, you just don't have it. Tonight, was one of those nights for the Nets. Final score: 91-84.

Rajon Rondo finished with 20 points & 9 assists. Deron Williams finished with 20 points, while Joe Johnson added 21 points. Besides from Andray Blatche, the bench combined for just 9 points. Brooklyn is now 30-30, failed to win their fifth straight tonight.

The Nets welcome the Sacramento Kings to Brooklyn this Sunday, the first time going up against former Net, Reggie Evans.

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

• Game Thread: Brooklyn Nets at Boston Celtics, 7:30 PM - NetsDaily
• 2nd Half Game Thread: Nets at Celtics - NetsDaily
• Nets at Celtics Boxscore - NBA.com
• Spin And Win (Video) - NBA.com
• Celtic Pride (Video) - NBA.com
• Post Game Plus: Nets fall to Celtics (Video) - Bob Lorenz - YES Network
• Kidd discusses Nets' disappointing loss to Celtics (Video) - YES Network
• Kirilenko discusses Nets' 91-84 loss to the Celtics (Video) - YES Network
• HIGHLIGHT: Andrei Kirilenko's Crafty And-One Layup (Video) - The Brooklyn Game
  
• Rondo's 20 Points Lead Celtics Over Nets 91-84 - AP
• Missing 26 3-Point Shots, Nets Fail to Add to Streak - Peter May - New York Times
  
• Rapid Reaction: Celtics 91, Nets 84 - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
• Shooting woes doom Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
• Paul Pierce suffers a 'quick stinger' - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
• Nets' winning streak ends at four with loss to Celtics - Rod Boone - Newsday
  
• Marcus Thornton having difficulty on the road - Rod Boone - Newsday
• Nets have not shot in 91-84 loss to Celtics - Andy Vasquez - The Record
• Nets notes: Garnett out - Andy Vasquez - The Record
  
• Nets miss 26 of 30 three-point attempts in loss to struggling Celtics - Stefan Bondy - New York Daily News
• Cold shooting dooms Nets in Boston - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
• Nets’ Pierce: Rondo birthday flap not a big deal - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
• Nets' Vets Garnett, Pierce Pose New Threats - Alex Raskin - Wall Street Journal
  
• Final Score: Celtics 91, Nets 84 - Jon Presser - SNY Nets
  
• Crashing Down: Celtics 91, Nets 84 (GAME GRADES) - Devin Kharpertian - The Brooklyn Game
• The Morning After: Boston Smacks Brooklyn - Devin Kharpertian - The Brooklyn Game
• Nets lay an egg in Beantown - Gregory Hrinya - Examiner
• Celtics Snap Nets Four-Game Win Streak - Lenn Robbins - Brooklyn Nets
  
• Celtics flex the Nets - Mark Murphy - Boston Herald
• Johnson: Hall of an experience with Nets - Mark Murphy - Boston Herald
• Jason Collins earned return to NBA - Steve Buckley - Boston Herald
• Pierce knows how Rondo feels - Steve Bulpett - Boston Herald
  
• Celtics respond by toppling Nets, 91-84 - Baxter Holmes - Boston Globe
  
• Jason Collins says attention is dying down - Gary Washburn - Boston Globe
• Thoughtful Collins quiet in return to Boston - Gary Washburn - Boston Globe
  
• Paul Pierce gives a hand to Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics - Chris Forsberg - ESPN Boston
  
• Reunions for Jason Collins and Chris Johnson Too as the Brooklyn Nets visit Boston Celtics - Jared Weiss - CNLS Radio