The Boston Celtics will attempt to beat the visiting Brooklyn Nets for the second time in as many nights when the teams meet Wednesday in the final game for each side before the All-Star break.
Jayson Tatum collected 41 points and 14 rebounds to help Boston beat Brooklyn 118-110 on Tuesday in New York during the opener of the home-and-home series. It was the third time Tatum scored at least 40 points in a game this season.
Tatum tied his career high by scoring 31 points in the first half, and the Celtics went on to produce their fifth win in a row.
Jaylen Brown added 19 points for the Celtics, who have won nine of their last 10 meetings with the Nets — 13 of 14 if postseason play is included.
Mikal Bridges scored 27 points and Cam Thomas had 26 for the Nets, who lost for the fourth time in five games.
Brooklyn backup center Day’Ron Sharpe returned to action Tuesday after missing 15 games with a hyperextended left knee. He logged six points and four rebounds in minutes.
Boston played without starting center Kristaps Porzingis, who sat out due to a back contusion. Mazzulla said Porzingis is expected to play Wednesday.
Al Horford replaced Porzingis in the lineup and scored 16 points on 6-for-6 shooting. Porzingis is averaging 20.4 points and seven rebounds in 39 games this season.
Vaughn said forward Cameron Johnson could be back in the lineup Wednesday. Johnson, who has missed the past four games because of a left adductor strain, is averaging 13.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. He is shooting 45.8 percent from the field, 40.1 percent from 3-point territory.
Vaughn also said Ben Simmons won’t play Wednesday because it will be the team’s second game in two nights. Simmons finished with five points, eight assists and six rebounds on Tuesday.
The Wednesday matchup will be the fourth meeting between the Celtics and Nets this season. Tatum had 32 points and 11 rebounds in Boston’s 124-114 road victory on Nov. 4, and Brown scored 28 points when the Celtics beat the Nets 121-107 on Nov. 10 in Boston. The Celtics made 19 3-pointers in the latter win.
