The Boston Celtics take a commanding 2-0 sequence lead over the Brooklyn Nets after grinding out a 114-107 win Wednesday night time. Boston’s protection was the difference-maker on this contest, because it made life extremely troublesome for Kevin Durant as soon as once more limiting him to capturing simply 23.5 % from the sphere. The Nets took command of this recreation early on, working up a 17-point lead at one level, however after halftime the Celtics buckled down and started executing on offense.

Jayson Tatum hit clutch pictures down the stretch and completed the night time with 19 factors, 10 assists and 6 rebounds, whereas Jaylen Brown tacked on one other 22 factors within the win. It was actually a balanced assault from the Celtics as all 5 starters scored in double figures, and Grant Williams got here up massive off the bench with 17 factors. The sequence will now shift to Brooklyn for the following two video games, because the Nets attempt to get again on this sequence towards a dominant Boston staff.

Listed here are three takeaways from Recreation 2.

1. Celtics protection gave Okay.D. all kinds of issues

Durant has constructed a legacy off being one of the vital troublesome gamers in NBA historical past to protect. His distinctive mixture of dimension and talent make it so his shot is basically unguardable as he can elevate over anybody and get a clear look off. Every time the ball leaves Durant’s palms you assume it is moving into; that is simply how deadly of a scorer he is been all through his complete profession. 

However on Wednesday night time, Durant did not appear like the man who’s sometimes unstoppable as he struggled closely to get into any kind of rhythm. Okay.D. completed with 27 factors, however he went simply 4 of 17 from the sphere, and if it weren’t for the 18 factors on the free throw line he would’ve had simply 9 factors within the recreation. That is insane, and it’s a must to tip your hat to the Celtics protection. This wasn’t simply an off night time from the long run Corridor of Famer. This was an all-out defensive assault executed to perfection from the Celtics. Each journey down the ground Durant was met with defensive stress, both from double groups or simply straight up stifling protection. 

This was extra than simply Boston trapping Durant a bunch and forcing the ball out of his palms. The Celtics weren’t permitting any respiration room for Durant to do something on offense, and it did not matter who was in entrance of him both. That is what makes Boston’s protection so elite. It has the power to modify almost every little thing, and the Celtics have a lot size and athleticism that it is not totally stunning that Durant appears to be like flustered on offense. Boston pressured him into committing six turnovers as each participant inside arms size of Durant on protection had lively palms attempting to frustrate him and get him out of a rhythm, and it labored. That is surely one of the best any staff has ever defended Durant, and it may pressure Brooklyn to regulate for the remainder of the sequence to attempt to determine a approach to get him higher alternatives.

2. A balanced scoring effort from Boston

This was a kind of video games that confirmed you why having nice depth is so essential within the playoffs. Seven gamers completed in double digits for the Celtics, and Boston obtained nice manufacturing out of its two key bench gamers in Grant Williams and Payton Pritchard. Williams particularly had a stellar night time from begin to end. Within the first quarter he and Daniel Theis had been the one two gamers on the Celtics who might get something happening offense, and saved the sport inside attain as Brooklyn got here out of the gates attacking. His protection was simply as noteworthy as he had a number of strong possessions guarding Durant, and performed a hand in forcing him into a pair turnovers.

If it weren’t for the manufacturing of fellows like Williams, Theis and Al Horford within the first half, the Nets would’ve seemingly been up by much more initially of the third quarter. However as a substitute, the function gamers saved the staff afloat and lower a 17-point lead into simply 10 factors heading into halftime. It is also price nothing that these gamers had been in a position to get buckets oftentimes due to passes from Tatum. Although Tatum struggled scoring within the first half, going simply 2 of 8 from the sphere, he racked up 5 assists and put his teammates in an amazing place to get simple pictures. Tatum’s passing has been one of many key enhancements in his recreation this season, an space the place Sensible mentioned the staff wanted him to enhance to raise his recreation. Tatum actually took that to coronary heart, and his improved court docket imaginative and prescient was on full show in Recreation 2. He impacted the sport along with his passing within the first half, then started to take over down the stretch along with his scoring to assist Boston pull out a win. 

3. Kyrie Irving must do extra

Irving completed the sport with simply 10 factors on 4-of-13 capturing from the sphere and recorded only one help. That is unacceptable. The Celtics are going to proceed to swarm Durant each journey down the ground, and Irving wants to have the ability to choose up the slack when that occurs. The Nets cannot afford for Irving to have an off night time as a result of they do not have the depth the place they’ll depend on guys when the celebrities are feeling defensive stress. 

Bruce Brown did a wonderful job at producing offense, as he completed with 23 factors. However that alone is not going to be sufficient. We have seen Irving fully take over video games, and this was his alternative to try this whereas Okay.D. was struggling. However Irving appeared out of kinds, and nothing just like the dynamic guard able to torching you for 30-plus factors on any given night time. He wasn’t attacking the rim as a lot, or creating alternatives for his teammates, and as a substitute was forcing a pair pictures and have become a non-factor within the fourth quarter as he went 1 of 4 for simply two factors within the ultimate 12 minutes of the sport. That is not going to get it carried out towards the Celtics, and Brooklyn should hope that Irving can get moving into Recreation 3, as a result of if Boston places the clamps on Durant once more, it will need Irving to step up.