ALL-TIME RECORDS
Nets All-Time Record vs. Celtics: 44-89
Home Record: 24-41
Road Record: 19-48
Nets Last Home Win: March 13, 2003, 90-75
Nets Last Road Win: March 18, 2003, 87-74
Current Streak: Won 3
NETS VS. CELTICS SERIES NOTES
The Nets won the season series vs. the Celtics 3-1.
Over the four games, Richard Jefferson led the team in scoring, averaging 19.0 ppg.
As a team, the Nets averaged 93.3 ppg on 42.2% shooting and outscored the Celtics in fast break points 89-37.
However, it was the Nets’ defense that enabled them to dominate much of the series, holding many Celtics players as well as the team as whole under their season averages.
Here is a look at some of the defensive numbers:
| Category |
Celtics Stats vs. Nets |
2002-03 Celtics Stats |
| Antoine Walker - PPG |
15.3 |
20.1 |
| Antoine Walker - FG% |
28.4% |
38.8% |
| Paul Pierce - PPG |
22.5 |
25.9 |
| Paul Pierce - FG% |
36.7% |
41.6% |
| Celtics - PPG |
81.5 |
92.7 |
| Celtics - FG% |
36.0% |
41.5% |
| Celtics - 3PT% |
31.6% |
33.4% |
| Turnovers |
19.0 |
14.0 |
SERIES RECAP
The Nets won the season series from Boston for the first time since the 1996-97 season.
The Nets won three straight regular season games over Boston for the first time since 2/23/97-11/19/97.
The Nets have held Antoine Walker to 15.7 ppg on 25.0% shooting from the field in three games this season.
During their meeting on Christmas night, the Nets came away with a 36-point victory. The 36-point margin of victory was largest the Nets had ever had in a win over the Celtics.
TEAM TIES
Opposing players in this game who have ties to one another:
Rodney Rogers
Boston Celtics
Appeared in 27 regular season and 16 playoff games for Boston last season.
Jason Kidd, Rodney Rogers and Tony Delk
Phoenix Suns
Teammates on the Phoenix Suns during the 2000-01 season.
DID YOU KNOW?
This marks the first time that the Nets and the Celtics will meet in the playoffs in two straight years.
Coming into the 2003 Playoffs, the Nets players had a combined number of 315 playoff games under their belt, compared to 237 games for Boston.
The last time the Nets faced the same team in the playoffs in consecutive years was the Cleveland Cavs in 1992 and 1993.
Against the Celtics last year in the Eastern Conference Finals, Kidd joined Magic Johnson as the only two players in NBA history to average a triple-double in a playoff series of six or more games. He averaged 17.5 ppg, 11.2 rpg and 10.2 apg.
Kidd became the fourth player in NBA history to record three triple-doubles in a playoff series joining Magic Johnson in 1982, Wilt Chamberlain in 1967 and Oscar Robertson in 1963.
Kidd also became the first player in NBA history to record back-to-back triple-doubles in his first two conference final games, while becoming the fourth player in NBA history to record back-to-back triple-doubles in a conference final.
Kidd became the third player in NBA history to record a triple-double in their first ever Eastern Conference Final game and the 39th player overall to record a triple-double in a conference final game.
The Nets series-clinching win in Game 6 in Boston last year marked only the second time in Nets playoff history that they closed out a playoff series on the road.
Dikembe Mutombo is also facing the Celtics for a second straight year in the playoffs. As a member of the 76ers last season, he lost in the first round, 3-2.
PIERCED
Last season, the Nets did great job of containing Pierce in the playoffs. After scorching the Nets during last year’s regular season, Pierce shot just 36.4% from the field and 21.1% from three-point range.
ON THE OTHER SIDE
Rogers played against the Nets last season in the Eastern Conference Finals. While playing for Boston, he averaged 10.6ppg 4.5rpg while shooting 51.4% (18-35) from the field in six games.
BEST OF THEIR BEST
Here is a look at players on the Nets and Celtics who established current career playoff-highs in their series last season:
Jason Kidd -16 rebounds, May 21, 2002
Kerry Kittles - 8 rebounds, May 25, 2002
Aaron Williams - 18 points, May 25, 2002
Tony Battie -12 rebounds, May 21, 2002
Paul Pierce - 5 steals, May 27, 2002
Antoine Walker - 30 points, May 27, 2002
