Keys to the Game: Nets 93, Celtics 100 (Preseason)

Game Highlights

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Photo of the Game

Rajon Rondo takes it to the rack against the Nets in Sunday's 100-93 preseason win at TD Garden.
Brian Babineau/NBAE/Getty

Key Moment

In a game that was tight throughout, it was the second unit that wound up pulling away and snatching a road win away from the hopeful Nets. Doc Rivers opted to send the interesting fivesome of Eddie House, Lester Hudson, Marquis Daniels, Glen Davis and Rasheed Wallace out to start the final period, and what a decision that was.

With the Celtics up by a mere two points, House took the keys and helped his team pull away. He dished off to Davis for an easy layup to start off the fourth quarter scoring, drilled a 3-pointer 37 seconds later and hit another running jumper at the 7:27 mark that put the C's up by nine, their largest lead of the game to that point.

The lead floated around double-figures for the next six minutes until New Jersey made a mini run in the closing minutes, but it was the second unit that opened this one up and gave the Celtics their second win of the preseason

Stat Line of the Game

Paul Pierce had his first explosive game of the preseason and put up an incredibly efficient shooting performance on offense.

Box Score Nuggets

• The Celtics scored exactly 100 points, the first time they have broken triple-digits this season.
• Boston starters combined to shoot 21-of-39 from the field, good for 53.8 percent.
• The Celtics and Nets combined to make 51-of-63 free throws in the game. Boston shot 84.4 percent, while New Jersey shot 77.4 percent.
• The two teams recorded the exact same amount of assists in the game, 18.
• Eight different Celtics recorded at least three rebounds and four recorded at least three assists. Only two players did both, Ray Allen (three rebounds, four assists) and Eddie House (three rebounds, three assists).
• New Jersey committed 33 personal fouls, compared to only 23 by Boston.
• The Nets had two players score 20 or more points and two players record eight or more rebounds. Oddly enough, it was two players that did both: Brook Lopez with 21 points and eight boards, Yi Jianlian with 20 points and eight rebounds.

Quote of the Night

"Defensively, for the most part, effort was there, energy was there, talking was there," Garnett said. "[The Nets], give them credit too, they played well. Got to the line a lot. All in all I thought we played decent. But it's still preseason we're still trying to get better every day."

- Compiled by Marc D'Amico