Baynes Posts Double-Double In Celtics, 110-97, Win Over Nets In Regular Season Finale
Aron Baynes went off for a double-double in the first-half, as the Boston Celtics roll the Brooklyn Nets, 110-97, in the final game of the regular season on Wednesday night.
Earlier in the day the Celtics announced that they would be without Al Horford (rest), and Terry Rozier III (rest). And Guerschon Yabusele was questionable with left knee soreness, but he ended up in the starting lineup.
BOSTON CELTICS STARTING LINEUPS
— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) April 11, 2018
GAME 1
Kyrie Irving
Jaylen Brown
Jayson Tatum
Gordon Hayward
Al Horford
GAME 82
Shane Larkin
Jabari Bird
Abdel Nader
Guershon Yabusele
Aron Baynes
And speaking of the starting lineup, there was no Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum or Marcus Morris. All three ended up riding the bench the entire game.
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Baynes took full advantage of getting the starting nod, as he’d finish the game with a career-high 26 points on 52 percent shooting to go with 14 rebounds, good for a double-double. And he did all of this in just 20 minutes.
Aron Baynes is the first Celtics center to have 25+ points and 14+ rebounds in a single game since Kevin Garnett did so on Dec. 3, 2008
— Celtics Stats (@celtics_stats) April 12, 2018
Baynes wasn’t the only one to finish with a double-double. Shane Larkin had one as well with 12 points (2-5 3PT), 10 rebounds and seven assists.
The Celtics opened up the game shooting 37.9 percent from the field in the first, as they take a 27-22 lead into the second.
Pick: ✅
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 12, 2018
Roll: ✅
Bucket: ✅ pic.twitter.com/yNzcaGs1e3
By this point, Baynes was already sniffing his double-double with 14 points and seven boards. And he’d hit the mark by the close of the second quarter.
Following a quick first-half, which took less than 40 minutes, the Celtics held a 10-points lead heading into the half.
The Celtics picked up right where they left off in the second, and continued on for a nice 23-9 run, to take a 69-50 lead with 6:21 to play in the third.
Boston would end up holding an 83-70 lead over the Nets with 12 minutes remaining in the regular season.
The C’s maintained their 13-point lead throughout the duration of the fourth quarter, and would go onto beat the Nets, 110-97, in the final game of the regular season.
Brooklyn finished the night shooting 41.1 percent from the field and 28.2 from three. And the Celtics, who shot the ball 103 times, shot 45.1 percent from the field and 25 percent from three.
The Celtics out-rebounded the Nets by 18, while committing two less turnover.
Nik Stauskas led all Nets scorers with 18 points (6-12 FG) and four rebounds.
Yabusele finished with 16 points on 60 percent shooting. And Jonathan Gibson dropped 18 points (8-13 FG) off the bench for the C’s.
Too easy for the ???????? pic.twitter.com/yxvy4jzNtz
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 12, 2018
The Eastern Conference’s second-place Celtics finished the regular season 55-27, while going 27-14 at home and 28-13 on the road. For what it’s worth, the Nets finish twelfth in the East at 28-54.
UP NEXT: With the Heat getting a win, and the Bucks and Wizards losing, “The Greek Freak” Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks are coming to Boston for the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
— By John ‘The Dude’ Hardiman, 985TheSportsHub.com
John Hardiman is a Digital Producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for John? Hit him up on Twitter @HardiDude or e-mail him at john.hardiman@bbgi.com.
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