Boston @ Brooklyn preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 27, 2019 ) Brooklyn 110, Boston 121

The drama surrounding Kyrie Irving and Boston is not going away anytime soon, but at least it should be tempered a bit when the Celtics visit the Brooklyn Nets on Friday in the back half of a home-and-home set. With Irving missing his seventh straight game and not traveling with the team, the Nets on Wednesday faced a vocal Boston crowd that took every opportunity to call out the star guard, who had a disappointing two-year stint with the Celtics before signing with Brooklyn this offseason.

His replacement in Boston, Kemba Walker, was the catalyst in the Celtics' 121-110 win with a season-high 39 points in his first game back from a neck injury, helping Boston improve to 7-0 at home. "I've been over it. I could have played last game, honestly," Walker told reporters of the injury. "If I'm on the court, I'm on the court. I wasn't thinking about anything (but) wanting to win." Back home in New York, Irving posted a lengthy comment on Instagram, calling sports and entertainment "ignorant and obtrusive." The commentary figures to be his only contribution this week, as the six-time All-Star does not have a timetable for his return to the court.

TV: Noon ET, NBC Sports Boston, YES (Brooklyn)

ABOUT THE CELTICS (13-4): Walker, who left a game in Denver on a stretcher last Friday with the neck injury, missed just one contest and showed no ill effects versus the Nets, making 13-of-24 shots in 31 minutes. "For him to be playing, and even feeling fresh, five days later is very fortunate," coach Brad Stevens told reporters. "It's good to see." Backup point guard Brad Wanamaker got into the act as well with 13 points in 19 minutes two nights after going 0-for-8 from the floor in a win over Sacramento.

ABOUT THE NETS (9-9): Brooklyn fell to 5-2 without Irving with Friday's loss as fill-in starter Spencer Dinwiddie was held under 20 points for the first time in that span while shooting 5-for-19 from the floor. He did have a season-high 11 assists and fellow guards Joe Harris and Garrett Temple both hit the 20-point mark for Brooklyn, which was outrebounded 55-38. Jarrett Allen did his best to contend on the boards with 14 rebounds to go along with 17 points for his third straight double-double.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Nets had season highs in made 3-pointers (21) and 3-point attempts (56) in Friday's loss.

2. Celtics SG Jaylen Brown has scored at least 22 points in three straight games and in seven of the last 10.

3. Boston SF Jayson Tatum has missed all 12 of his 3-point tries over the past three contests.

PREDICTION: Celtics 112, Nets 110