The lowly New Jersey Nets made the most of Boston’s defensive struggles on Saturday as they shocked the Celtics 104-96.
“Any win for us is big. There’s no question, but to get a win on the road, and this is one of the toughest places to play in the NBA, just shows that. It should demonstrate to our guys that if they play with effort, they can compete against anybody,” said Nets coach Kiki Vandeweghe, whose team entered the game with a 5-52 record.
Center Brook Lopez scored 25 points, Devin Harris added 23 and Courtney Lee 21 for the Nets, who edged ahead 29-27 on Keyon Dooling’s basket at the end of the first quarter and never relinquished the lead.
Kevin Garnett had 26 points and Marquis Daniels had 16 for the Celtics, who were without Paul Pierce for the third straight game.
New Jersey took 41 free-throws to the Celtics’ 11.
Celtics coach Doc Rivers blamed his team for the free-throw disparity, saying “it was on us.”
Rivers said he told his players after a 108-88 loss to Cleveland on Friday: “It ain’t the system. It’s our heads.”
“It’s between our ears and we’ve got to come out and play,” Rivers said.
The Nets had challenged the Celtics until the waning minutes in a 96-87 loss on Feb. 5.
New Jersey scored 25 points off 18 Celtics turnovers. The Celtics shot 63 percent in the first quarter to build a 12-2 lead, but the Nets battled back.
The Nets need to win at least four of their remaining 24 games if they don’t want to break the all-time worst full-season showing in league history — the 9-73 of the 1972-1973 Philadelphia 76ers.
Saturday’s other NBA results:
• Grizzlies 120, Knicks 109
• Jazz 133, Rockets 110
• Pacers 100, Bulls 90
• Trail Blazers 110, T’wolves 91
• Warriors 95, Pistons 88
• Bucks 94, Heat 71
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