Porzingis leads Celtics past Nets 115-113 in comeback

Kristaps Porzingis made a strong return from an eight-game absence, scoring 24 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, to lead the Boston Celtics to a 115-113 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. Despite a dominant first half, the Celtics saw their 21-point lead shrink to just two points late in the fourth, but Porzingis stepped up with crucial plays to secure the win. Payton Pritchard contributed 22 points and set a new single-season record for 3-pointers off the bench, while Jayson Tatum added 20 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. The Celtics, who clinched a playoff spot the previous night, managed to hold off a late Nets push, with Brooklyn losing for the 10th time in their last 11 games. The Nets' Cam Johnson led his team with 23 points, and Keon Johnson added 21. The Celtics have now won eight consecutive regular-season games against the Nets in Brooklyn.