The Skinny: The Celtics raced out to the early lead, relying on hot three-point shooting to open an eight-point lead. But Joe Johnson found his outside stroke, and the Nets responded with a 13-2 run, capped off by back-to-back three-pointers by C.J. Watson. Brooklyn led by one after one.
Deron Williams took control offensively to open the second quarter, helping to increase the Nets? lead to six. Boston?s second unit immediately fought back to regain the lead, but from there the Nets went on a 15-4 run to lead by 10 at the break. D-Will scored 11 points in the quarter, and things began to get chippy as Kevin Garnett picked up a technical foul for a skirmish with Reggie Evans.