The Nets bounce back from a slow start by the stars, defeating the Celtics 104-93.

Perhaps it was Boston's defence. It could even have been Brooklyn fans.

Whatever the reason, the Nets' Big Three were off to a shaky start to the playoffs.

When the second half arrived, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden went from being far behind to being far ahead.

Durant had 32 points and 12 rebounds, Irving had 29 points, and the Nets rallied from a shaky start by their superstars to defeat the Celtics 104-93 on Saturday night.

“I think it will start to turn for you once your energy is focused on the defensive side of the ball,” Durant said. “So you saw that in the second half for us.”

Harden finished with 21 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists in only the trio's ninth appearance of the season. The three combined to shoot 0 for 11 from 3-point range in the first half, then stormed out of the locker room with an 18-4 run to start the third and give the Nets a comfortable lead.

After playing in mostly or entirely empty arenas for the majority of the season, the Nets announced a sellout crowd of 14,391. The loud crowd, according to Harden, was an adjustment.

“It just threw me off a little bit, but we got more comfortable in the second half and the shots started falling,” he explained.

Durant, Irving, and Harden combined for 28 of the Nets' 31 points in the period, with Joe Harris — who hit Brooklyn's only 3-pointer of the first half — adding another.

Harris led the Nets with 10 points, and they will host Game 2 on Tuesday night.

“I thought we put on a good performance,” Irving said. “All we have to do is do it three more times.”

Jayson Tatum scored 22 points but shot just 6 for 20 and was unable to match his 50-point performance in the play-in tournament, when Boston defeated Washington to earn the No. 7 seed.

The Celtics scored 40 points in the second half and shot 37% for the game.

“You can guard these guys really well and still have to score,” said Boston coach Brad Stevens.

Brooklyn started Harris and Blake Griffin with the Big Three to demonstrate how little time the Nets' stars spent together. It was the first time those five players had started together all season, and it may have contributed to an abysmal start to the playoffs.

Durant, Harden, and Irving combined for 5 for 20 shooting in the first quarter, and the Nets missed all nine 3-point attempts. Boston took a 32-20 lead early in the second quarter.

With 2:18 left in the half, Harris hit a three-pointer, giving Boston a 53-47 lead.

After halftime, things changed quickly. Harden hit a three-pointer after Durant scored four straight points coming out of the locker room. It was Irving 3, Durant 3, Durant jumper, Harden 3 after two Boston baskets. That completed the 18-4 run, bringing the score to 65-57.

Irving and Durant combined for a 12-2 fourth-quarter run that extended a three-point lead to 94-81 on Irving's follow shot.

SUGGESTIONS

Robert Williams III led the Celtics with 11 points, nine rebounds, and nine blocked shots. He's been battling turf toe, and it wasn't clear if he'd play until he warmed up. Marcus Smart led all scorers with 17 points.

Nets: Irving, who played for the Celtics for two seasons, wore green sneakers. Brooklyn's starting lineup was the 39th different one of the season, a franchise record set during the regular season. Durant surpassed former San Antonio guard Tony Parker (4,045) for ninth place on the all-time playoff scoring list. Durant has a total of 4,075.

READING THE LIPS

Stevens and Nets coach Steve Nash both coached without masks, which is now permitted for fully vaccinated coaches. Stevens stated that it was beneficial for players to be able to see his mouth again because hearing his instructions would become more difficult with larger crowds in arenas.

But there was one advantage to keeping his mouth covered.

“As I always say, with an 11- and 15-year-old at home, it's a lot easier to not say the wrong thing with the mask on and not get caught on the internet than it was maybe before,” he said.

BEATEN BY BOSTON

The Nets have won eight straight playoff games against the Celtics and are 9-2 all-time against them, including a six-game victory in the 2002 Eastern Conference finals and a sweep in the 2003 East semifinals. It is both the Nets' and the Celtics' highest and lowest postseason winning percentage against an opponent. o