Don't look now, but one of the hottest teams in the NBA currently plays in Newark, New Jersey. For the first time in more than three years, the New Jersey Nets have won five in a row after taking down the Eastern Conference's best team, the Boston Celtics 88-79 at the Prudential Center. It was the first time New Jersey beat Boston in four tries this season, though it's the first time they've met since the Deron Williams trade.
The Nets trailed by nine after scoring just 14 points in the first quarter, but just by two at halftime. Following a 31 point third, New Jersey found themselves holding a six point lead going into the fourth quarter. The game looked well in hand as the reserves put the Nets up by 12 with nine minutes left in the game, but the Celtics turned it on and trimmed the gap to just two in the final four minutes.
A perfect entry pass from Williams to Brook Lopez led to an easy hook shot from the center to put New Jersey up four. Williams followed with a basket of his own, this time a three on an in bounds play with 35 seconds remaining to seal the deal for the Nets.
Lopez continued to lead the way for New Jersey, scoring a game-high 20 points. Williams had 16 points and nine assists, the first time since the trade to the Nets that the point guard didn't record a double-double. Kris Humphries did chip in a double-double, with 16 points and a game-high 15 rebounds as he continues to prove himself as a threat around the basket.
Anthony Morrow had 15 just days after the death of his grandmother.
Ray Allen scored 19 for the Celtics in defeat, while Kevin Garnett had 18 and Glen Davis had 16 points and 14 rebounds off the bench.
It is just the first time in ten attempts that the Nets were able to beat the Celtics in New Jersey.
Next up for the resurgent Nets are the Chicago Bulls on Thursday at the Prudential Center.
If the New Jersey Nets hope to win their fifth straight game for the first time in three years they will have to take out the Boston Celtics, owners of the Eastern Conference's best record. The two teams will meet Monday night at The Prudential Center in Newark.
The Nets will once again have the services of point guard Deron Williams after he missed the last two games to be with his wife for the birth of their fourth child, Desmond. Even without their best player, Avery Johnson and the Nets continued their winning ways by taking both games he missed, including a 102-98 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in overtime on Friday.
Jordan Farmar and Brook Lopez each scored 24 points to pace the Nets, while Kris Humphries delivered the muscle with 19 points and career-high 19 rebounds. Just as he did during the first meeting, Humphries played tough defense against Clippers star Blake Griffin.
The Celtics, meanwhile, are fresh off one of their most impressive victories of the season on Sunday night. Boston set a franchise record for fewest points allowed in the shot clock era when they defeated Milwaukee, 87-56.
Ray Allen scored 17 points, Paul Pierce had 14 and Nenad Krstic added 11 points and a game-best 14 rebounds for the Celtics, winners in nine of their last 12 games. Boston held the Bucks to 31 percent shooting and had a 50-32 advantage on the backboards.
These two teams have already met three times this season with the Celtics taking all three. The latest was a 94-90 setback on February 16, in a game that was tied with less than 10 minutes remaining before Boston ran away down the stretch.
The Nets are winless against the Celtics over their last nine meetings in New Jersey.
Things don't get any easier for Avery Johnson's crew with the Chicago Bulls coming into Thursday to wrap up the Nets home stand.
