After the Celtics dropped their third straight game to the Oklahoma City Thunder Tuesday night, Jaylen Brown urged his teammates to pick up their intensity moving forward by igniting their “inner flame.” Aaron Nesmith must’ve heard that message loud and clear, because the rookie wing responded 24 hours later with one of the fieriest individual performances of Boston’s campaign. With Marcus Smart and Kemba Walker both sidelined for Wednesday night’s matchup against the Charlotte Hornets, Nesmith stepped in and produced career-highs of 15 points, nine rebounds, three steals, and three blocks, becoming the first rookie in Celtics history to reach such benchmarks all in one game. However, his most impressive contribution didn’t show up on the stat sheet; it showed up on the court in the form of non-stop hustle plays that helped to spark the Celtics to a 120-111 win.
Ten days ago, the Boston Celtics were flying high after capturing their sixth straight win over the Golden State Warriors, giving them an 8-1 start to the month of April. However, in the week and a half since, they have come crashing back down the Earth, losing four of their last five games, including a 119-115 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder Tuesday night.
The Celtics ignited a spark. The flame didn’t spread. And the light went out. Such has been the story of the season for Boston, as it continues its quest for consistency.
But as frustrating as these ups and downs have been, the C’s still believe that they have what it takes to light a flame that doesn’t go out. They’ve seen how good they can be when they’re on their A-game, and they have faith that they can pull it together by the end of the regular season. Even with just 10 games remaining.
NBA Playoff Picture: Clippers, Nets, Bucks About To Clinch 2021 Postseason Berths
04/27/21 AT 2:02 PM
A handful of NBA teams are on the verge of officially making the 2021 playoffs. The magic number for both the Los Angeles Clippers and Brooklyn Nets is down to one, while the Milwaukee Bucks are on the doorstep of earning a postseason berth.
The Clippers don’t play Tuesday, but they can clinch a playoff berth if the Portland Trail Blazers lose to the Indiana Pacers. The Nets can clinch a playoff berth by defeating the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night or with losses by both the Charlotte Hornets and Boston Celtics.
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