BOSTON — The Celtics couldn’t complete their comeback to the Nets, losing 113-105 on Friday at TD Garden. It was a tough loss as the C’s dropped to 8-8 on the season, falling behind by as many as 18 points to the Nets.
But Anfernee Simons kept the Celtics in the game and hit some big shots, making him Friday’s “Name to Know” Player of the Game. The Name to Know Player of the Game is sponsored by John’s Sewer and Drain Cleaning, the Name to Know when your drains don’t flow.
Simons finished with 23 points, three rebounds and four assists in a season-high 33 minutes, shooting 10-for-16 from the floor. With the Celtics needing to make a comeback against the Nets, he provided crucial offensive production to keep the C’s within arm’s length of the Nets. Friday was arguably Simons’ best game of the season.
It’s been an up-and-down season for Simons as he acclimates to life with the Celtics. At his best, he’s a scorer and putting the ball through the hoop frequently, just like he did Friday. That’s the aggressive version of Simons where he creates offense for a Celtics squad that needs that edge coming off the bench.
But there are also nights where Simons isn’t as aggressive offensively and isn’t up to par defensively. So there have been games where his impact is muted and he doesn’t play much off the bench. It’s a balancing act for the veteran guard, but he showcased why he’s known around the league as a scorer Friday.
The Celtics will look to bounce back following the loss, one of their most disappointing results of the season. They cut an 18-point deficit down to two midway through the fourth quarter, but then the Nets responded to put the game away.
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