Tuesday night at the Barclays Center, the Boston Celtics climbed to over .500 for the first time this season. The now 8-7 C's registered a 113-99 win over the now 2-12 Brooklyn Nets.
As the score suggests, Boston's ability to clamp down defensively was at the root of that victory. En route to holding the hosts under triple-digits, the Celtics limited the Nets to 14 points and four field goals in the final frame.
With the tilt tied at 90 and just under eight minutes left, Sam Hauser "changed the game" in the eyes of his head coach, Joe Mazzulla. He did so with a steal from Terance Mann that led to a Neemias Queta dunk at the other end of the floor. That ignited a 17-3 run that gave the visitors a 14-point advantage with two minutes remaining.
BIG time play 😤 pic.twitter.com/izDWRAfy8l
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) November 19, 2025
Three days later, the two sides will square off again in an NBA Cup clash at TD Garden.
Who's on the Celtics' injury report?
Despite Jaylen Brown playing through a hamstring strain early on, Boston has maintained a relatively clean bill of health to begin the season. That is significant to the team's acclimation process, as the group gets used to playing at a faster pace and operating more aggressively on defense to generate more turnovers.
The Celtics have already dealt with a two-game mini-series against the Orlando Magic, played the Philadelphia 76ers three times, and are now preparing for a rematch vs. the Nets. These opportunities against an opponent more familiar with them are a beneficial challenge.
That's another reason it helps that the only player on their injury report entering Friday's contest against Brooklyn is Jayson Tatum, as he rehabs from a torn Achilles tendon.
Having everyone on a standard NBA contract this season available for this NBA Cup showdown allows Boston to maximize whatever Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez decides to throw at the team based on what unfolded Tuesday. It also gives players a chance to quickly implement the changes they want to make the next time they're in situations that they faced in the previous matchup.
Another essential part of the Celtics maximizing what they're schedule served up this week is that the Nets will have everyone available who played before the latter emptied the bench at the end of Tuesday's tilt.
According to Erik Slater of ClutchPoints, Brooklyn's injury report is as follows:
Ben Saraf -- left ankle sprain -- out
Cam Thomas -- left hamstring strain -- out
Haywood Highsmith -- right knee surgery, injury recovery -- out
Danny Wolf and Nolan Traore played in the final two minutes on Tuesday. However, they are out on Friday while on a G League assignment.