Brown, Vucevic score 28, Celtics shoot season-high 66% in a 148-111 win over the Nets

BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown had 28 points, nine assists and seven rebounds and the Boston Celtics rolled past the Brooklyn Nets 148-111 on Friday night.

Nikola Vucevic finished with 28 points and 11 rebounds for his third double-double since joining the Celtics. Payton Pritchard added 22 points for Boston, which has won five of six since returning from the All-Star break.

The Celtics shot a season-high 66.7% from the field and connected on 22 3-pointers. They also got 77 points from their bench.

Michael Porter Jr. finished with 18 points for Brooklyn, which has lost seven straight games.

The Celtics took control in the third quarter, outscoring the Nets 43-26. Brooklyn managed only seven points over the final 6:23 of the period.

Boston shot 15 of 19 from the field with 12 assists in the pivotal quarter and connected 5 of 7 attempts from the 3-point line

Boston’s lead grew to as many as 41 points in the fourth.

The Celtics shot 62% from the field (24 of 39) and 60% from the 3-point line (12 of 20), yet only led 66-57 at halftime.

The Nets were able to stay close thanks to eighth Boston turnovers, which Brooklyn turned into 12 points.

The Celtics had only four turnovers in the second half.

Nets: Host Cleveland on Sunday.

Celtics: Host 76ers on Sunday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, right, jokes with assistant coach Sam Cassell during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics center Nikola Vucevic (4) tries to block a shot by Brooklyn Nets forward Josh Minott (00) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Brooklyn Nets guard Terance Mann, right, passes the ball while pressured by Boston Celtics guard Jordan Walsh (27) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta (88) lines up a dunk against the Brooklyn Nets during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) drives to the basket against Brooklyn Nets guard Nolan Traore (88) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Alex Lyon made 27 saves to beat his former Florida teammates for the second this month, helping the Buffalo Sabres top the Panthers 3-2 on Friday night for their eighth victory in 11 games.

Lyon played for the Panthers during the 2022-23 season. He has won two of his past four starts — both against Florida.

Beck Malenstyn gave Buffalo a 2-1 lead with 8:22 left, sending a slap shot from the point through traffic and past Daniil Tarasov. Florida challenged for goalie interference after Buffalo defenseman Mattias Samuelsson’s stick made contact with Tarasov’s glove, but the goal stood.

The Sabres won 2-1 at New Jersey on Wednesday night in their return from the Olympic break. They are tied with Detroit for second place in the Atlantic Division. Buffalo has missed the playoffs an NHL-record 14 straight years.

The two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers are in serious danger of missing the playoffs. Florida, which has lost six of its past eight, is eight points behind Boston for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 23 games left.

Alex Tuch and Peyton Krebs also scored for Buffalo. Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett scored for Florida.

Buffalo got a needed insurance goal with 1:17 remaining on an empty-netter from Krebs. Florida cut it to a goal with 35 seconds left when Bennett’s shot went off the post and Buffalo defenseman Rasmus Dahlin inadvertently swept the puck in off of Lyon.

Florida played much of the game without defenseman Uvis Balinskis who blocked a shot late in the first period. After coming off the ice to get treated, Balinskis returned and played one more shift. He only played two in the second and did not come out for the third.

Sabres: At Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Panthers: At the New York Islanders on Sunday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhla

Buffalo Sabres' Peyton Krebs, center, celebrates with Tage Thompson, left, and Alex Tuch, right, after scoring a goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)