BOSTON — A Moment to Remember for Egor Demin
With the game on the line, Egor Demin stepped up, hitting a crucial shot in what was arguably the most intense phase of his NBA journey. When the Nets clawed back from an 18-point deficit to close in at 96-94 in the third quarter, Demin answered with a timely 3-pointer, shifting the momentum and ultimately leading the Celtics to a 113-105 win at TD Garden.
“I think Demin’s three-pointer was by far the game’s pivotal moment. It really turned things around for us,” Michael Porter Jr. reflected post-game. “They had kept it tight, and with that shot, we extended our lead a bit and found some additional scoring opportunities.”
“It was an incredible experience,” Demin said after the game. “The atmosphere was a bit muted so I didn’t quite feel the energy like I would at home. But being on that historic court for the first time in that key moment was special. Hitting that three felt really good, honestly.”
In those critical final minutes, Demin contributed 12 points, grabbed six rebounds, and dished out five assists, despite starting the game on the bench.
Head coach Jordi Fernandes praised Demin’s performance, noting, “He played very hard, which is why he earned his minutes. He showed a lot of composure out there.” It seems this newfound trust from the coaching staff means a lot to Demin.
“It’s everything to me,” he shared. “Gaining their trust allows us to build confidence. I know the coaching staff believes in me and in our team, and with that, we’ll have more strength and energy to perform at our best.”
Porter notched 33 points on 13-of-21 shooting, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, extending his record to eight straight games with 20 or more points, which is a personal best.
Meanwhile, Nick Claxton celebrated a significant milestone, recording his first career triple-double with 18 points, a career-high 12 assists, and 11 rebounds. “It felt great, and it was a solid team effort. This being my first triple-double in Boston makes it even more special,” he said, noting that both his parents were there to witness the achievement.
As for the roster, Ben Saraf is still out due to a sprained left ankle, while Danny Wolf and Nolan Traore are set to head to Long Island for Saturday’s matchup against the Greensboro Swarm.
