Celtics GameDay Live Stream: Boston Looks to Clip the Nets in Brooklyn
The Boston Celtics (43-25) travel to Brooklyn to take on the Nets (13-54) Friday night at the Barclays Center.
Just when the Boston Celtics were starting to look healthy, they lose All-Star point guard and leading scorer Isaiah Thomas for at least the next couple games.
Nursing a bone bruise in his right knee, Thomas will be out of the lineup when the Celtics take on the lowly Brooklyn Nets. This will be the second string of games the Celtics will be without Thomas this season. He missed four games with a strained groin back in December.
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This time around, Boston has a more favorable schedule. If there was a time to rest the high-scoring point guard, it would be now. The Boston Celtics are 30-10 against teams with a losing record.
Game Notes
Boston will enter the game with the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and will look to take advantage of a relatively easy schedule down the stretch.
The Celtics will miss IT’s scoring, but should be able to still handle Brooklyn. A win Friday night will not only help the Celtics keep pace with the Cleveland Cavaliers. A win will also help their draft position in the 2017 NBA Draft.
With the right to swap picks with the Nets, Boston can better their chances at the top overall pick by handing Brooklyn another “L” in the loss column.
Projected starting lineup
G – Marcus Smart
G – Avery Bradley
F- Jae Crowder
F – Amir Johnson
C – Al Horford
Who’s Hot
Al Horford came up just short of posting a triple-double in Wednesday night’s 117-104 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. He finished the game with 20 points, nine rebounds and an impressive eight assists. Following the game Avery Bradley labeled him as the best passer on the team.
Related Story: Al Horford Excelling at Distributing the Ball
"“He might be the best passer on our team, one of the best passers in the NBA,” Bradley said, via the Boston Herald. “He’s willing to pass more than anything. We like to get the ball in his hands because we know he’s going to make the right play. The majority of the time he’ll make it for a teammate. It’s amazing. He gets everyone going. He’s so positive he sacrifices a lot for his team. It doesn’t go unnoticed. He’s definitely a great addition to this team.”"
Prediction
The Celtics could struggle early in this game. Nets center Brook Lopez could present a problem down low. However, Boston will get it together as the game wears on.
They should put this game away with their improved defensive play. Expect Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley to have big scoring nights as the Celtics will eventually cruise to their third consecutive win.
How to watch Celtics vs. Nets online
When: Friday, March 17, at 7:30 p.m. ET
Live Stream: Watch fuboTV
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