At the Barclays Center the Brooklyn Nets will welcome the Boston Celtics to play an NBA game during Saturday evening. The Eastern Conference places the Nets at position 12 with a record of 22-44 while the Celtics stand as the second-place team with 48-19.
The Brooklyn Nets have fallen victim to a losing streak which led to their tenth defeat after losing 116-110 to the Bulls on the road.
Cam Thomas provided 24 points and an early quick start for the Nets but their offense collapsed in the last quarter when Chicago posted an 18-34 points advantage.
The Nets rank among the bottom two teams in scoring this season with 105.3 PPG but hold the ninth-best defensive efficiency that permits 111.6 PPG against them.
The Boston Celtics earned their seventh victory among their recent 10 matches after achieving a decisive 103-91 defeat over the Miami Heat in their away game last night.
During their victory Boston scored 43% while shooting 19 out of 50 three-pointers and Jayson Tatum together with Jrue Holiday both reached 20 points.
In this season's standings the Celtics lead the seventh position for scoring at 116.6 PPG (points per game) and rank third best with their 108.1 PPG (points allowed per game).
Boston Celtics triumphed in their previous game. Miami Heat took their 103-91 defeat at Kaseya Center during a game on the road. During the game Tatum produced 28 points and Holiday earned 25 points and White finished with 18 points.
The Brooklyn Nets suffered their second consecutive road defeat when they played their latest game. Chicago Bulls secured victory in a home game that ended up as 116-110 at United Center. NBA player Cameron Thomas provided 24 points alongside 10 assists while Tyrese Martin reached 19 points and Nicolas Claxton scored 18 points along with 14 rebounds in the game.
Both Brown and Porzingis participated in shootarounds yesterday before being downgraded to out, but it's difficult to predict who we'll see on Boston tonight. As of midday ET, there is no sign that Tatum will be given the night off, and I would anticipate that at least one of them will play against the Brooklyn Nets.
The Celtics, who are 6-1 up and 5-2 against the spread in their previous seven games, are my pick since the majority of their rotation guys will probably suit up. After all, the Brooklyn Nets will be without their greatest defender and top scorer, shooting guard Cam Thomas, as well as big Nic Claxton.
When Thomas was injured earlier this season, Brooklyn had the NBA's worst offense, and without him and his 24.0 points per game in the lineup, it will appear that way once more. Claxton, meanwhile, is their best rim protector and rebounder.
On March 4, Thomas returned to the Nets following a protracted hiatus. The Nets have only scored more than 105 points in four of their previous 26 games prior to that day. They will struggle to score against a slow-moving Celtics team that gives up a league-low 106.3 points per game away from home.
Someone will have to carry a greater portion of Brooklyn's scoring and rebounding burden in the absence of Thomas and Claxton. Cameron Johnson, who averages 18.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, will probably be that player.
![Chelsea 0 - [2] Ipswich Town - Ben Johnson 31'](https://score808.us/upload/photos/2025/04/7dec6cb0e707f56a45a56acc0e09e0979f9350e9IKmTyR8OU5xiOjTp1qmm.video_thumb_9771_11.jpeg)
