The Brooklyn Nets (1-3) will look to retaliate against the Boston Celtics (4-1) as they face for the second time in the 2016-2017 NBA Preseason Games on Oc. 17, Monday at the TD Garden.
Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 7:30 p.m. ET. It can be viewed live online thru the NBA League Pass.
Preview
Boston nipped Brooklyn, 100-97, on Oct. 13 at the Barclays Center for their fourth straight win in this year's preseason. The loss was the third consecutive for the Nets, who are still adjusting with new head coach Kenny Atkinson.
The Nets faced the Celtics in full strength during the match as all of the host's starters suited up, such as Al Horford, Jae Crowder, Amir Johnson, Avery Bradley, and Isaiah Thomas.
Atkinson, who was a former Atlanta Hawks assistant before he accepted Brooklyn's head coaching job, countered with his best five to start the game as well, namely Brook Lopez, Trevor Booker, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Randy Foye, and Jeremy Lin, giving the game a regular season aura.
Three of the Nets starters scored in double figures with Lin, Booker, and Lopez firing 12, 11, and 11 points each. Booker had a game-high 12 rebounds while dished off also a game-high seven assists.
Horford and Thomas netted 13 and 12 for Boston, who evidently has the deeper bench between the two sides. Horford also grabbed nine rebounds in 21 minutes while Thomas had three boards with no assists. Backup point guard Marcus Smart had the better game with 13 points, three rebounds, and four assists.
The Celtics then beat the Knicks, 119-107, last Saturday at the Madison Square Garden to extend their preseason winning streak to four games.
Boston head coach Brad Stevens utilized the same starting lineup as the team seemed to be fully-prepared already to start the regular season.
Bradley top scored with 15 points this time while Horford and Crowder had 12 and 11. Smart continued to outperform Thomas off the bench with 11 points, three boards, and one assist as compared to the latter's five points, 1 rebound, and three assists.
Rookie forward Jaylen Brown led the bench with 12 points and three rebounds.
Prediction
The Celtics are predicted to pull off a lopsided win. Stevens will continue to improve the chemistry between his starters as he plays them all again albeit in limited minutes only.