By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Boston Celtics outlasted the Brooklyn Nets, 130-126, in the second overtime on Friday. Hugo Gonzalez netting a wide-open three-pointer with 0.4 seconds left in the first extra period forced a second in Barclays Center, and the C’s never trailed through the remaining five minutes. “We know what to do in those kinds of situations, when we’re down three, and we need a three. We know that they’re probably going to go as we did before, with an umbrella, which is around the three-point line. So, yeah, we practiced almost every detail. And this was one of the plays that we practice usually,” said the 19-year-old Spanish guard in a postgame interview.
With his side jumping to 28-16 in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season, Gonzalez put in ten points behind 4/4 field goals, including two triples, seven rebounds, one block, one assist, and one steal over 18:33. Fellow reserve, Bosnian Luka Garza added 12 points, three assists, one block, and one rebound, lasting 20:29 until fouling out. Playing through an illness, Portuguese starter Neemias Queta chipped in six points, five rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal over 28:21, with British Amari Williams at three points, one assist, and one block in 5:05. In contrast, Ukrainian Max Shulga was left out of the lineup.
On the wrong end, French Nolan Traore improved his personal-best in the NBA to 21 points, besides also recording three rebounds, two steals, two assists, and one block in 36:51. “You learn that every detail matters and every mistake is punished. That’s what cost us the game,” mentioned the 19-year-old combo guard, recapping his first meaningful clutch minutes in the league.
“He’s going to keep growing. There are some mistakes. We need him to be like the floor general, talk, and use his voice. I can start seeing it from him, where he can call everything that makes sense, but he’s gotta grow that voice. I’m going to trust him,” Spanish head coach Jordi Fernandez commented on the development of Traore.
Furthermore, Russian starter Egor Demin went for six points, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal over 21:05. Lasting 17:54, Israeli Danny Wolf got four points, six rebounds, two assists, and one block. Fellow Israeli option Ben Saraf is stuck on his G League assignment with the affiliate, Long Island Nets.