Michael Porter Jr. Leads Nets to 113-105 Win Over Celtics with Claxton’s First Triple-Double

Michael Porter Jr. delivered a stellar 33-point performance and Nic Claxton recorded his inaugural triple-double, propelling the Brooklyn Nets to a 113-105 win over the Boston Celtics on Friday. This victory allowed Brooklyn to even their season series after losing at home earlier in the week.

Porter was highly efficient, connecting on 13 of 21 field goal attempts, including 4 of 6 from beyond the arc. This extended his personal best streak to eight consecutive games with at least 20 points. He was particularly impactful in the fourth quarter, contributing 16 points.

The Nets bounced back from their 113-99 home defeat on Tuesday to improve to 1-2 in NBA Cup Group B play, while the Celtics dropped to the same record. Claxton supported the effort by logging 18 points, 12 assists, and 11 rebounds. Rookie Egor Demin also provided a solid contribution with 12 points, six rebounds, and five assists.

For the Celtics, Jaylen Brown scored 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds despite facing foul challenges, and Anfernee Simons came off the bench to add 23 points.

Boston made a strong push in the fourth quarter, cutting a 15-point deficit to just four points at 96-94 following a 17-4 run. However, Demin’s decisive 3-pointer with just over five minutes remaining quelled the Celtics’ momentum. Porter then extended Brooklyn’s lead to 106-97 with a mix of inside baskets and a three-pointer.

Throughout the game, the Celtics had moments of resilience. Neemias Queta’s tip-in brought them within three points in the third quarter before the Nets responded with a 19-4 run highlighted by a Ziaire Williams dunk in transition.

Brooklyn’s dominant second quarter included a 40-point output and an 11-2 run to close the period. During this sequence, Demin scored four points and executed a crucial steal, setting up Clowney for a layup in the final seconds to secure a 62-53 halftime lead.

Early in the game, Porter’s 3-pointer gave Brooklyn a 19-12 advantage midway through the first quarter, but Boston rallied with a 16-3 surge, including three three-pointers by Payton Pritchard and a trey from Luka Garza, allowing the Celtics to lead 28-22 after 12 minutes.

Statistically, the Nets shot 52.4% from the field (43 of 82), edging the Celtics who converted 46.7% (42 of 90) despite attempting more shots.

Brooklyn’s victory underscores their road success this season, having won all three games away from home to date.