Boston, Feb. 27, 2026 — The Boston Celtics turned in one of the most efficient offensive games of the shot-clock era on Friday, overwhelming the Brooklyn Nets 148–111 at TD Garden.
Boston converted 66.7% of its attempts (52-for-78), the franchise’s third-best mark since 1954-55 and its highest since 1990, according to ESPN Research. The Celtics also connected on 64.7% from beyond the arc and posted an 80.8% effective field-goal percentage, the best recorded league-wide in the shot-clock era.
Brown and Vucevic spearhead balanced attack
All-Star guard Jaylen Brown paced the hosts with 28 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. Center Nikola Vucevic, acquired at the trade deadline, matched Brown’s scoring output while collecting 11 rebounds for his third double-double in six games with Boston.
“We just did a good job reading the game,” head coach Joe Mazzulla said. “Vooch looked comfortable in his offensive reads and screening—he unlocked a lot for us.”
Every one of the 13 Celtics who saw the floor scored, and the team committed only three turnovers after halftime. Boston has now won five of six since the All-Star break and sits at 39-20, second in the Eastern Conference.
Tatum’s status for Sunday remains in question
The Celtics could receive an additional boost Sunday when they host the Philadelphia 76ers at 8 p.m. ET, a time slot NBC shifted into prime time. The change has fueled speculation that forward Jayson Tatum might return after rupturing his right Achilles tendon 41 weeks ago during Game 4 of last season’s Eastern Conference finals.
Under league rules, Boston must issue its initial injury report by 5 p.m. ET Saturday. Tatum, who practiced with the club’s G League affiliate two weeks ago, said he continues to follow a step-by-step plan. “I feel a little bit better every day,” he noted, adding he does not want to disrupt a group “playing extremely well.”
The Nets, meanwhile, had no answer for Boston’s scorching night and slipped further down the conference standings.
Source: ESPN
