The Brooklyn Nets came up one point short in Boston, dropping a 125-124 overtime decision to the Celtics on Tuesday and staying winless at 0-4 to open the 2026-27 season.
It was the kind of loss that leaves a team replaying every possession. Brooklyn had chances to grab its first victory, nearly let the game slip away in regulation, and then couldn’t quite finish the job in the extra five minutes.
Michael Porter Jr. powered the offense with 27 points and 12 rebounds, while Julius Randle added 24 points and nine boards before fouling out. On the other side, Jayson Tatum carried Boston on the second night of a back-to-back, piling up 40 points and eight assists and burying the buzzer-beating winner.
For the Nets, the effort showed up across the roster, even if the final result didn’t. Nolan Traore earned a B+ after making his first start of the season, with head coach Jordi Fernandez moving him into the lineup in place of Keon Ellis, who had been starting next to Egor Demin. Traore had his best game so far, getting into the paint repeatedly and bringing real energy on defense.
Porter’s night was good enough for an A. He scored from all three levels, got to the free-throw line and backed it up on the glass. That rebounding piece mattered, especially with Porter acknowledging he needed to get back to it after a slow start in that area.
Randle received a B. Boston made life difficult for him with its set defense and help in the paint, and his three-point shot didn’t cooperate. Still, he kept working, helped on the boards and generated a few steals with active hands.
There was also a tough night for Egor Demin, who was given an Incomplete after struggling to get enough attempts before leaving late in the first half with a limp. The team later said it was a right leg contusion, and the hope is that it won’t turn into something longer term.
Day’Ron Sharpe posted a C+ after finishing around the rim when opportunities came his way, but Boston’s approach kept those chances limited. He rebounded well and held his ground inside, though foul trouble remains an issue. Noah Clowney got a D after a quiet night overall, though he did show some fight in his altercation with Mitchell Robinson.
Chaney Johnson kept building on a strong start to the year and drew a B for his work as one of Brooklyn’s Two-Way players. His scoring versatility and effort stood out again. Mo Wagner was one of the brighter spots off the bench and earned an A, with his shot falling and his rebounding improving against Boston’s bigs.
Keon Ellis, now coming off the bench, received a B- after settling into his role and giving Brooklyn solid passing while making things difficult for Derrick White and Paul George on defense. Mikel Brown Jr. got a B+ despite some rough shooting, because the rookie kept attacking, helped on the glass, moved the ball cleanly and made several big plays late before one overtime mistake that helped turn a possible first win into a fourth straight loss.
In Other News...
Nets Let A Winnable Road Game Slip Away At The Worst Time
Brooklyn had every reason to feel good about how it had fought its way into a tight finish in Boston, especially with rookie Mikel Brown Jr. giving the Nets a burst of life in the fourth quarter. He scored 13 points in the period, and for a stretch it looked like Brooklyn might steal a road game it had no business controlling for long stretches.
Instead, a late mistake gave the Celtics the opening they needed in a game that was already hanging by a thread. The Nets left with a 125-124 overtime loss, a brutal ending in a matchup that had been there for the taking and will linger because the final possession turned from a chance to close it out into another reminder of how thin the margin is on the road. [Read more 🡒]
Why The Nets Wanted No Part Of Jaylen Brown
When Boston came calling with a trade idea for Jaylen Brown, the Nets reportedly didnt need long to think it over. According to league insider Brian Lewis, Brooklyn passed on the offer because Browns close relationship with Kyrie Irving was part of the package, and the organization was wary of reopening old doors it had worked hard to close.
For the Nets, it was less about Browns talent than the memory attached to the move. League sources said Brooklyn wanted no part of anything that could resemble another Kyrie Irving situation, a reminder of how much the franchise still measures potential additions against the turbulence that came with Irvings stint there. Brown eventually landed with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he is playing now, but the reason Brooklyn backed away says plenty about the standards the team is applying to its roster decisions. [Read more 🡒]
Nets May Have Avoided A Bigger Egor Demin Scare
Egor Demins night ended early in Boston after he left with a right leg contusion and never returned, a frustrating turn in an overtime loss for the Nets. The injury came after a collision with Paul George, and Brooklyn was left to sort through another short-handed finish while trying to assess how much trouble its rookie guard was really in.
Demin offered a calmer read after the game, saying the issue does not appear serious and that he expects to be back in a couple of days. Even so, there was still some uncertainty about whether he would need imaging, and his availability for Fridays matchup with the Detroit Pistons remains up in the air. [Read more 🡒]