Jayson Tatum and the Celtics jumped out to a 28-2 lead against the Nets Tuesday night and didn't look back. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Nets make history by falling behind 28-2 vs. Celtics in first quarter

By Adam Stites | Last updated 2/8/22

The Nets started so poorly against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday that Brooklyn was already down 26 points fewer than seven minutes into the game.

The staggering 28-2 lead that the Celtics built in the first quarter was the most lopsided start to a game in decades. According to ESPN Stats and Info, no team has fallen behind by 26 points faster than the Nets did Tuesday in at least a quarter century.

I'll take that pic.twitter.com/awW2oIdmzt
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 9, 2022

Brooklyn has lost nine consecutive games, the longest losing streak in the NBA, and was without its entire trio of stars Tuesday. Kevin Durant is still recovering from a sprained MCL suffered in January, and James Harden missed a third consecutive game due to a hamstring injury. The Nets are also without Kyrie Irving, who is barred from playing home games in New York as an unvaccinated player.

The Nets were a preseason title favorite and started the season strongly, building a 23-10 record before the end of 2021, despite Irving's absence. But Brooklyn is just 6-15 since then and has slid to eighth place in the Eastern Conference with Tuesday's 126-91 loss. The Nets sit one spot behind the Celtics.

More must-reads: