Celtics battle early 3-point slump against Nets

The Boston Celtics are fighting to maintain their offensive rhythm against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night at TD Garden. The team is currently behind 38-30 with nine minutes and 14 seconds remaining in the second quarter. The score reflects a struggle from beyond the arc that has defined the early stages of the contest.

The Celtics have made just one three-point shot in 12 attempts so far. Their opponents have capitalized on the long-range opening, converting four of their 13 attempts from deep. This disparity in perimeter shooting has allowed Brooklyn to keep pace with Boston, which is playing the second night of a back-to-back set.

In the opening quarter, the Nets closed the frame on a 10-2 run to take a 31-26 lead. Nolan Traore was the primary driver for Brooklyn, scoring nine points on 4-of-4 shooting. He started his first game of the season and has been difficult to contain. Former Celtics player Mo Wagner added six points off the bench during that stretch, helping to extend the lead.

Jayson Tatum has eight points on 2-of-5 shooting for Boston. Payton Pritchard, who scored 28 points in Monday's 134-99 win over the Chicago Bulls, has added four points in this game. The Celtics' starting lineup includes Derrick White, Jordan Walsh, Paul George, and Mitchell Robinson alongside Tatum. Julius Randle leads the Nets in scoring, averaging 22.0 points per game this season.

A brief altercation occurred in the second quarter between Mitchell Robinson and Noah Clowney. Robinson pushed Clowney lightly, leading to a short scuffle. Officials assigned double technical fouls to settle the matter. The incident interrupted the flow but did not change the momentum significantly.

The Nets, who are winless with a 0-3 record, have played competitively against Boston. They lost to the Indiana Pacers 136-109 on Sunday. The only time Brooklyn beat the Celtics since March 2023 was a 113-105 victory at TD Garden last season. The Celtics are 2-1 on the year after beating the Bulls on Monday.

The game is being broadcast on NBC Sports Boston. Coverage began with a pregame show at 6:30 p.m. ET. Tip-off was set for 7:30 p.m. The current scoreline shows the Nets leading, but Boston has shown the ability to close gaps in this matchup. The teams will continue to battle in the second half to determine the final result.