Brooklyn faces Boston without scoring leader Irving
Boston Celtics (13-4, second in the Eastern Conference) vs. Brooklyn Nets (9-9, seventh in the Eastern Conference)
Brooklyn; Friday, 12 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: The Brooklyn Nets face the Boston Celtics without top scorer Kyrie Irving.
The Nets have gone 2-1 against division opponents. Brooklyn is 6-3 when winning the rebound battle and averages 46.6 rebounds per game.
The Celtics have gone 8-1 against Eastern Conference opponents. Boston has a 10-3 record when allowing more than 100 points.
The two teams matchup for the second time this season. The Celtics defeated the Nets 121-110 in their last meeting on Nov. 27. Kemba Walker led Boston with 39 points, and Garrett Temple paced Brooklyn scoring 22 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jarrett Allen leads the Nets with 10.3 rebounds and averages 11.8 points. Taurean Prince has averaged 5.1 rebounds and added 11.2 points per game over the last 10 games for Brooklyn.
Walker is averaging 22.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists for the Celtics. Marcus Smart has averaged five assists and scored 13.3 points over the last 10 games for Boston.
LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 7-3, averaging 101.5 points, 42.1 rebounds, 23.3 assists, 8.8 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 44.7 percent from the field. Their opponents have averaged 96.2 points on 44.1 percent shooting.
Nets: 5-5, averaging 96.1 points, 40.4 rebounds, 20.9 assists, six steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 44.2 percent from the field. Their opponents have averaged 98 points on 44.0 percent shooting.
Nets Injuries: Caris LeVert: out (thumb), Kyrie Irving: out (right shoulder), Kevin Durant: out (achilles), DeAndre Jordan: day to day (knee).
Celtics Injuries: Gordon Hayward: out (left hand).
