NBA: Celtics score 46 points in first quarter, crush Nets

Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after scoring against the Brooklyn Nets during the first half at TD Garden on February 01, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images/AFP

The Boston Celtics didn’t do much wrong in the opening quarter and breezed to a 139-96 home victory over the depleted Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night.

Boston was 18-for-29 from the field (62.1 percent) in the opening frame and led 46-16 after 12 minutes. It was the largest lead the Celtics have had after the first quarter in franchise history.

The Celtics made 8 of 11 3-pointers in the period — including their first seven attempts — and outrebounded Brooklyn 20-6. The 2018-19 Golden State Warriors hold the NBA record for most points in a first quarter (51).

Brooklyn trailed 79-45 at halftime and 110-72 after three quarters. Boston’s lead peaked at 49 in the fourth quarter.

Boston’s Jayson Tatum scored a game-high 31 points. He also had nine rebounds, four assists, two steals and a blocked shot before the Celtics put their starters on the bench after three quarters. Jaylen Brown added 26 points.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown went off in the Celtics W.

☘️ Tatum: 31 PTS, 9 REB, 4 AST, 7 Threes
☘️ Brown: 26 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST, 7 Threes pic.twitter.com/mnIMhnXYq3

— NBA (@NBA) February 2, 2023

The Celtics made 26 3-pointers — one shy of matching a franchise record. Both Tatum and Brown were 7 of 12 from behind the 3-point arc.

Kyrie Irving led the Nets with 20 points, four rebounds and four assists in 31 minutes. Joe Harris tossed in four 3-pointers and finished with 12 points for Brooklyn, which has lost its last 10 games against Boston (including playoffs).

Boston had a 57-32 rebounding edge.

In addition to Kevin Durant, who hasn’t played since Jan. 8 because of an MCL sprain, the Nets were without Ben Simmons (knee) and T.J. Warren (shin contusion). Simmons and Warren have each missed the last three games.

It was the third of four meetings between the teams during the regular season. The Celtics prevailed 103-92 in Brooklyn on Dec. 4, and 109-98 in Brooklyn on Jan. 12.

The Celtics didn’t have Marcus Smart, who missed his fifth consecutive game with a sprained ankle. Boston is 2-3 during that five-game stretch.

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