Sure, they’re not undefeated like their crosstown rival, but the Nets are off to a strong start: After taking care of business against Orlando and Cleveland over the past week, last night they hung on to beat Boston at Barclays Center, 102-97. It was Brooklyn’s fourth straight win, and the consensus this morning is that this was a “statement game” or a “breakthrough win” or a “springboard” of some sort. Indeed, this was one of those “we’re not in New Jersey anymore” nights. The sold-out Barclays Center crowd showed their approval with chants of “Brook-lyn” on a night where Joe Johnson had a couple of key baskets late and Deron Williams and Brook Lopez each scored 24 points.
That said, this was a Celtics team that was playing its second game in two nights, and was doing so without the injured Rajon Rondo. But still: It’s a win over the five-time defending Atlantic Division champs that improved the Nets’ record to 5-2 in the early going. Next up: A west coast swing that kicks off Sunday at Sleep Train Arena (really) in Sacramento.