The Boston Celtics travel to Brooklyn for an Atlantic Division matchup against the Nets on Friday, January 23, 2026. The Celtics, second in the Eastern Conference, aim to build on their recent win and capitalize on Brooklyn’s struggles, while the Nets look to snap a three-game losing streak and avoid falling further in the standings. This is the third meeting of the season, with the teams splitting the first two: Brooklyn won 113-105 in Boston on November 21, 2025, and Boston responded with a 113-99 victory in Brooklyn on November 18, 2025.
Venue Location
Barclays Center
Brooklyn, NY
Capacity: 17,732
(Opened in 2012, this multi-purpose arena is home to the Nets and known for its intimate seating and vibrant atmosphere, especially during rivalry games against fellow Atlantic Division teams.)
Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET (4:30 PM PT)
Broadcast: NBCS-BOS (Celtics local), YES (Nets local)
Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub (Boston), WFAN 101.9 FM/66 AM (Brooklyn)
Streaming: NBA League Pass, SiriusXM
Injury Report
Injuries loom large, particularly for Boston without their star forward, which could force adjustments in scoring and defense.
Boston Celtics:
Jayson Tatum (SF): Out (Achilles tendon injury; sidelined indefinitely)
Josh Minott (SF): Out (Ankle sprain)
Derrick White (SG): Day-to-Day (Undisclosed; status to be determined closer to tip-off)
The Celtics will rely on Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard for scoring, with Neemias Queta anchoring the paint. If White sits, expect more minutes for Anfernee Simons.
Brooklyn Nets:
Haywood Highsmith (SF): Out (Knee injury; out indefinitely)
Nic Claxton is healthy and expected to start at center, providing rim protection. The Nets’ depth is tested, but Michael Porter Jr. and Noah Clowney remain key contributors.
Key Player Matchups
Without Tatum, Boston’s offense shifts to Brown, while Brooklyn’s young core faces a defensive test against the Celtics’ versatile lineup.
Jaylen Brown (BOS) vs. Michael Porter Jr. (BKN): A battle of high-scoring wings. Brown (29.8 PPG, 48.8% FG, 36.4% 3PT) leads the Celtics in scoring and will exploit mismatches with his athleticism. Porter Jr. (25.3 PPG, 48.1% FG, 39.6% 3PT) is Brooklyn’s top scorer, but his defense may struggle against Brown’s drives.
Derrick White (BOS, if active) vs. Terance Mann (BKN): White (17.6 PPG, 5.4 APG, 1.5 BPG) brings playmaking and elite defense (1.3 SPG). Mann (7.6 PPG, 3.7 APG) handles the ball for Brooklyn but lacks White’s efficiency (44.7% FG).
Neemias Queta (BOS) vs. Nic Claxton (BKN): Big-man clash in the paint. Queta (10.4 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.3 BPG) provides rebounding and blocks, while Claxton (12.6 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 1.4 BPG) excels in shot-blocking and finishing (58.3% FG).
Payton Pritchard (BOS) vs. Egor Demin (BKN): Pritchard (16.5 PPG, 5.4 APG, 44.7% FG) steps up as a facilitator. Demin, a rookie, adds size but is still developing.
Other notes: Boston’s bench averages 38.2 PPG, edging Brooklyn’s 35.1. The Celtics rank No. 3 in defensive efficiency, challenging Brooklyn’s 25th-ranked offense.
Team Rankings
| Category | Celtics Rank (League) | Nets Rank (League) |
| Points Per Game | 112.5 (20th) | 104.8 (29th) |
| Opponent PPG | 107.3 (3rd) | 115.1 (25th) |
| Rebounds Per Game | 46.8 (10th) | 42.3 (26th) |
| Assists Per Game | 25.4 (15th) | 22.9 (24th) |
| Field Goal % | 46.2% (17th) | 44.1% (28th) |
| 3-Point % | 35.8% (12th) | 34.2% (23rd) |
Recent Team Forms
Boston has been inconsistent but strong defensively, while Brooklyn’s offense has sputtered.
Boston Celtics (Last 10 Games: 6-4)
The Celtics have won three of their last four, including a 119-104 home win over Indiana (Jan. 21). Road losses to Detroit (103-104 on Jan. 19) and Indiana (96-98 on Jan. 12) highlight vulnerabilities, but they’ve averaged 114.2 PPG in wins.
| Date | Opponent | Result | Score | Key Performer |
| Jan. 21 | vs. IND | W | 119-104 | Brown: 30 PTS, 10 REB |
| Jan. 19 | @ DET | L | 103-104 | White: 22 PTS, 7 AST |
| Jan. 17 | @ ATL | W | 132-106 | Pritchard: 28 PTS |
| Jan. 15 | @ MIA | W | 119-114 | Brown: 35 PTS |
| Jan. 12 | @ IND | L | 96-98 | Queta: 12 PTS, 14 REB |
| Jan. 10 | vs. SAS | L | 95-100 | White: 29 PTS, 9 REB |
| Jan. 8 | vs. DAL | W | 110-105 | Brown: 32 PTS |
| Jan. 5 | @ ORL | W | 108-102 | Pritchard: 25 PTS, 8 AST |
| Jan. 3 | vs. CLE | L | 99-112 | Brown: 27 PTS |
| Jan. 1 | @ TOR | W | 115-110 | White: 24 PTS |
Brooklyn Nets (Last 10 Games: 2-8)
The Nets have lost eight of their last ten, including a 66-120 blowout at New York (Jan. 21). Wins against Chicago (112-109 on Jan. 16) and others provide glimpses, but they’ve averaged just 104.8 PPG.
| Date | Opponent | Result | Score | Key Performer |
| Jan. 21 | @ NYK | L | 66-120 | Porter Jr.: 18 PTS |
| Jan. 19 | vs. NOP | L | 108-112 | Claxton: 15 PTS, 10 REB |
| Jan. 18 | vs. CHA | W | 112-109 | Porter Jr.: 28 PTS |
| Jan. 16 | vs. CHI | W | 112-109 | Clowney: 22 PTS |
| Jan. 14 | @ NOP | L | 113-116 | Porter Jr.: 25 PTS |
| Jan. 12 | vs. MIA | L | 98-105 | Claxton: 18 PTS, 12 REB |
| Jan. 10 | @ LAC | L | 105-121 | Thomas: 20 PTS |
| Jan. 9 | vs. LAC | L | 105-121 | Porter Jr.: 24 PTS |
| Jan. 2 | @ WAS | L | 99-119 | Claxton: 14 PTS, 8 REB |
| Jan. 1 | vs. HOU | L | 96-120 | Porter Jr.: 22 PTS |
Series History
Boston leads the all-time series 146-75 in 221 regular-season games. The Celtics have won 9 of the last 10 meetings overall, though Brooklyn snapped a streak with their November 21 win. Trends: The under has hit in 6 of the last 8 games, averaging 215.2 total points.
| Date | Location | Result | Score | Spread Covered? |
| Nov. 21, 2025 | Boston | BKN Win | 105-113 | BKN +14.5 |
| Nov. 18, 2025 | Brooklyn | BOS Win | 99-113 | BOS -11.0 |
| Mar. 18, 2025 | Boston | BOS Win | 104-96 | BKN +13.5 (No) |
| Mar. 15, 2025 | Brooklyn | BKN Win | 113-115 | BKN +10.5 |
| Nov. 10, 2024 | Boston | BOS Win | 121-107 | BOS -13.5 |
Betting Trends
Against the Spread (ATS): Celtics 25-18 (58.1% cover rate); Nets 19-23 (45.2% cover rate). Boston is 6-4 ATS in last 10, Nets 2-8 ATS. Over/Under (O/U): Celtics games hit over 18-25 (41.9%); Nets 17-25 (40.5%). Last 10 Nets games average 219.9 points, trending under in home games. Moneyline (ML): Celtics 20-9 as favorites (69%); Nets 4-18 as underdogs. Boston is 8-4 when favored by -350 or more. Recent Trends: Celtics 15-8 ATS on road; Nets 3-7 ATS last 10 home games. The under is 7-3 in Boston’s last 10 vs. East teams.
Boston’s superior record (27-16 vs. 12-30) and 6-4 last 10 give them a 74% win probability. Without Tatum, they still dominate Brooklyn’s weak defense. The Celtics cover 58% of spreads and have won by 10+ in five of last seven vs. sub-.500 teams. Nets are 2-8 ATS recently; expect Boston to win by double digits. Both teams trend under (Celtics 25 unders, Nets 25 unders). Last five meetings averaged 214 points; Tatum’s absence slows Boston’s pace.
Game Odds
Boston Celtics – 8.5
Brooklyn Nets 216.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, January 22, 2026
