By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 22:51 EST, 23 January 2026 | Updated: 22:52 EST, 23 January 2026
NEW YORK (AP) - Payton Pritchard scored 32 points, Jaylen Brown had 27 points and 12 assists, and the Boston Celtics outlasted the lottery-bound Brooklyn Nets 130-126 in double overtime on Friday night.
Hugo González forced the second OT on a 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left in the first extra period. Baylor Scheierman found the 19-year-old Spanish rookie with a no-look pass and González buried the wide-open shot from the corner.
The Celtics, who have won four of five, never trailed in the second OT. Anfernee Simmons put Boston ahead for good with a three-point play, and Sam Hauser's 3-pointer made it 128-124 with 1:51 left.
Michael Porter Jr. scored 30 points and Nolan Traore added a career-high 21 for the Nets, who nearly knocked off the second-place team in the Eastern Conference two days after they were beaten 120-66 by the crosstown New York Knicks.
Nic Claxton forced overtime with a putback dunk with 1.9 seconds left and finished with 19 points for the Nets, who have lost nine of 10.
Brooklyn led 117-112 with 7.9 seconds left in the first OT. Pritchard hit a 3-pointer for Boston, then fouled Traore, who made 1 of 2 free throws to set up González's tying 3.
Boston Celtics' Payton Pritchard (11) passes away from Brooklyn Nets' Nic Claxton (33) and Michael Porter Jr. (17) during the second overtime of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Celtics led 101-91 with 3:06 left in regulation, but the Nets closed the period on a 13-3 run.
Celtics: At Chicago on Saturday night.
Nets: At the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night.
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Brooklyn Nets' Ziaire Williams, left, defends Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Brooklyn Nets forward Ziaire Williams, left, passes away the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Brooklyn Nets' Nolan Traore (88) drives past Boston Celtics' Luka Garza (52) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) shoots over Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton, back, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)