Celtics Cruise to Big Win Over Nets

Boston pulls away in second half for 148-111 victory

Feb. 28, 2026 at 8:55am

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The Boston Celtics had a dominant second half, outscoring the Brooklyn Nets 82-54 to cruise to a 148-111 victory on Friday night. Nikola Vucevic led the Celtics with 28 points and 11 rebounds, while Jaylen Brown added 28 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists. The Celtics shot an impressive 66.7% from the field and 64.7% from 3-point range.

Why it matters

This win extends the Celtics' hot streak, as they have now won 10 of their last 11 games. The loss continues a rough stretch for the Nets, who have now lost 7 straight games. The Celtics' strong performance against one of the Eastern Conference's top teams demonstrates their potential as a championship contender this season.

The details

The Celtics took control of the game in the third quarter, outscoring the Nets 43-26 to build a 26-point lead. A 12-0 run put Boston up 94-76, and they never looked back. Vucevic, Brown, Payton Pritchard (22 points) and Derrick White (12 points, 7 assists) all had big games for the Celtics, who shot the lights out as a team.

  • The Celtics led 35-32 after the first quarter.
  • Boston held a 66-57 halftime lead.
  • The Celtics outscored the Nets 43-26 in the third quarter.
  • Boston led 109-83 at the end of the third quarter.

The players

Nikola Vucevic

A starting center for the Boston Celtics who had 28 points and 11 rebounds in the win.

Jaylen Brown

A starting guard for the Boston Celtics who scored 28 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and dished out 9 assists.

Michael Porter Jr.

A starting forward for the Brooklyn Nets who led his team with 18 points in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We must have been locked in defensively in the second half to hold them to just 54 points. That was the key to pulling away for the big win.”

— Nikola Vucevic, Celtics Center (statenews.net)

What’s next

The Celtics will look to continue their strong play when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday. The Nets will try to snap their losing streak when they visit the Toronto Raptors on Monday.

The takeaway

This game showcased the Celtics' offensive firepower and defensive intensity, as they dominated the Nets from start to finish. Boston's balanced scoring attack and efficient shooting performance were too much for Brooklyn to handle, demonstrating why the Celtics are considered a top contender in the Eastern Conference this season.