Avery Bradley scored 21 points and Isaiah Thomas added 18 points and nine assists to lead the Boston Celtics over the struggling Brooklyn Nets 120-95 on Friday night.
The Celtics shot 62 percent in the first half and ran away with the game in the second quarter when they went 18 for 21 from the field (86 percent) and closed with a 26-7 run. Thomas scored all 14 of his first-half points — including four 3-pointers — during that stretch.
Jae Crowder had 19 points, Evan Turner scored 12 and David Lee 11 for the Celtics, who took the opener of a home-and-home set between the Atlantic Division rivals. Boston won for the fourth time in five games and pulled to 3-3 at home.
The 25-point margin of victory was the largest of the season for the Celtics.
The Nets (2-11) shot 42 percent in the first half and turned the ball over 11 times, including four times during Boston's second-quarter spurt. It was the ninth time this season they were held under 100 points.
Thaddeus Young had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Nets, his fifth double-double after posting three last season. Brook Lopez also scored 14 points, and rookie Rondae Hollis-Jefferson added a career-high 13.
