Celtics Beat Nets in Experimental 44-Minute Game

Jared Sullinger had 21 points and 19 rebounds to help the Boston Celtics beat the Brookyln Nets 95-90 on Sunday in an experimental 44-minute game.

Jeff Green added 14 points for Boston (4-3).

Backup point guard Jarrett Jack and reserve center Jerome Jordan each had 17 points for the Nets (2-1).

The idea of a shortened game arose during the NBA coaches' offseason meeting as a way to analyze and compare the flow of the game with that of the league-standard 48 minutes.

While an average game takes 2 hours, 15 minutes, the game Saturday took 1 hour, 58 minutes. Instead of the customary 12-minute quarters, Sunday's game featured four 11-minute periods along with a reduction of mandatory timeouts from three to two during the second and fourth quarters.

The opening quarter has played in 19 minutes, the second in 29 minutes, and the third and fourth in 25 minutes each.

Brooklyn power forward Kevin Garnett sat out against his former team because of a stomach virus.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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