The Celtics were going to need a spark on Tuesday night.
With Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown both inactive in the same game for the first time since April 14, 2024, Boston had to look elsewhere for its go-to conduits of production on the parquet.
Most of the onus fell on Kristaps Porzingis, who led the charge for Boston against the Nets with 25 points, 13 rebounds, and three blocks.
But the rest of Boston’s overhauled starting five found themselves mired in a rock fight against the Nets — with Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, and Sam Hauser sinking just six of their 28 shots from 3-point range.