CELTICS 115The Nets did the best they could. From start to finish the Nets hung tough with the NBA Champion Boston Celtics, staying to within three or four points for most of the night, but their efforts were not enough to defeat one of the NBA's elite.
In the fourth quarter, Boston held a 101-92 lead with 6:32 to go. It appeared that Boston was going to run away with this game, but the Nets stormed back. Boston's lead was shrunk to 108-105 after Devin Harris' basket to get New Jersey back to within three.
On New Jersey's next possesion, Vince Carter kicked it out to Jarvis Hayes, who was standing in three-point land. Hayes heaved the ball up for the tie, but was fouled by Boston's young Greg Davis. Hayes connected on all three free-throws to tie the game at 108.
Boston tried to take the lead on the other end, but Brook Lopez rebounded the potential layup, and threw it back to Harris. Harris found Carter open and tossed the ball back to him. Carter then connected on a three to give New Jersey a stunning 111-108 lead with 1:14 to go.
But don't count Boston out. Ray Allen answered for the Celtics as he connected on his own three-point shot to tie it with less than a minute to go. The Nets failed to score on their next possesion and Paul Pierce made them pay with a long distance two to give the Celtics a 113-111 lead.
The Celtics late surge stunned the Nets, who just couldn't keep up, as they got into serious foul trouble. BOXSCORE.
Pierce had a huge night for Boston. He had 31 points on 12 for 14 shooting. As for New Jersey, Carter and Harris had big nights. Carter scored 34 points on 13 for 21 shooting, while Harris added 25 on 7 for 21 shooting. Former Net and Knick Stephen Marbury had no points for the Celtics.
The loss is a huge blow to the Nets playoff hopes. They needed the win in order to keep pace with Milwaukee for the final playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.
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