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Nets Rally From 12 Down to Post Their First Three-Game Winning Streak of the Season

BOSTON - The fifth time was the charm. And the Brooklyn Nets aren’t satisfied with that.

After failing their first four times to post a three-game winning steak, the Brooklyn Nets got over that hump with a hard-fought 109-107 win over the Boston Celtics Friday afternoon in TD Garden.

“I saw a lot of heart,’’ said Nets Coach Lionel Hollins. “Tenacity and perseverance.’’

The Nets trailed 95-84 with less than nine minutes left. But led by Mason Plumlee, Jarrett Jack and Alan Anderson, the Nets went on a 15-4 surge to tie the score at 99-99 on a Jack jumper with 4:15 left.

Jack hit another jumper with 27 seconds left to give the Nets a 106-104 lead. The Nets, who trailed by as much as 12, had to make two defensive stops before Jack drained two free throws with 5.4 seconds left.

Boston wouldn’t cave. Avery Bradley’s 3 made it a one-point game. When Joe Johnson converted the second of two free throws with 1.5 seconds left, the Celtics had one last chance.

Gerald Wallace threw a perfect full-court pass to Jared Sullinger in the left corner. Sullinger’s fallaway jumper didn’t drop. The Nets had their first three-game winning streak of the season.

“It just shows how much we’ve improved, what we can be,’’ said Brook Lopez. “This isn’t the limit for us. We expect a lot more from ourselves.’’

The Nets opened the season with a brutal 121-105 loss here in which they gave up 101 points in the first three quarters. Boston recently traded star point guard Rajon Rondo. But the Nets, who improved to 13-15, have made strides on the defensive end.

STAR: Jarrett Jack. As Deron Williams continues to make his way back from a strained right calf, Jack has been a brilliant replacement. He scored a season-high 27 points, including the jumper that put the Nets ahead. In his three starts, Jack has score 59 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and posted 23 assists.

KEY STAT: The Nets’ bench outscored the Celtics’ bench 46-30.

KEY STRETCH: Trailing 95-84 with just under nine minutes remaining, the Nets had showed no signs of making a charge. But the 15-4 run tied the game, setting up a dramatic finish.

KEY PLAY: After Joe Johnson was denied in the lane, the ball came to Alan Anderson in the corner. There was less than two seconds left on the shot clock. Anderson, showing great awareness, didn’t hesitate. He rose up and buried a 3 with 1:38 left in the game and 1.4 on the shot clock. The 3 tied the score at 104.

NETS’ GAINS: In the first 14 games in which the Nets trailed after three quarters, they were 1-13 this season. They’re 2-0 in the last two.

TALK: Jared Sullinger had his way with Mason Plumlee in two preseason games. When the Celtics needed baskets, they went to their beefy power forward three times in the final four minutes, including the last shot.

Plumlee forced three misses; the second was an air ball with 38 seconds left, while the last miss came at the buzzer.

“You never want the other team to iso you for the game,’’ said Plumlee. “They got to go at somebody but they pick you out, it’s a little disrespectful. You just want to lock in. It gives you a little extra something.’’