Caris LeVert scores career-high 51, leads Nets to OT win over Celtics

BOSTON — For three quarters, it was anything but a super Tuesday night for the Nets at TD Garden. But after trailing by 21 points in the third quarter, the Nets found a super sub in little-used Chris Chiozza, who sparked a rally led by budding superstar Caris LeVert, who scored a career-high 51 points, including all 11 Nets points in overtime of a shocking 129-120 victory over the Celtics.

The Nets were trailing the Celtics at 79-59 late in the third period when Nets coach Kenny Atkinson made a surprising decision to pull point guard Spencer Dinwiddie and insert Chiozza, who is on a two-way contract and has spent much of his season with the Long Island Nets.

At that point, the Celtics had a remarkable 21-1 lead in points off turnovers and Atkinson was angry. He even admitted he was close to pulling all of his starters because the Nets play the second game of a back-to-back against the Grizzlies Wednesday night at Barclays Center. But he saw a spark, and it ignited a 51-point four quarter, which is a franchise record for any quarter, as the Nets shot 65.2 percent. “I’m trying to process it all — 51 points in the fourth quarter against a top team like that,” Atkinson said.

“It’s obvious we got a boost from our bench, those guys that don’t play. It’s like one of those Hollywood movies.”

Atkinson credited Chiozza for his passing and energy and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot for his defense and backup center DeAndre Jordan for being a stabilizing influence. With a smile, Atkinson added, “And then, what’s that kid’s name? LeVert? Good to see Caris have a great game on national television.”

LeVert had 14 points after three quarters and scored 37 in the fourth quarter and overtime on 11-for-16 shooting. Luwawu-Cabarrot added 16, and Chiozza totaled eight points, four assists and two steals in his 21 minutes. The Celtics (41-19) were led by 22 points from Jaylen Brown and 21 from Kemba Walker.

“I just tried to keep my head in it even when I was on the bench in the third,” LeVert said. “That second unit, third unit, they did a great job keeping us in the game. When I got in, I just tried to fit in with those guys.”

Early in the fourth, the Nets went on a 19-6 run to get within seven. They fell behind again by 13, but LeVert scored 14 points in a 17-6 run, including four three-pointers, the last of which cut the Nets’ deficit to 110-108 with 1:31 left.

“In the fourth quarter, he came out and was hitting everything,” Chiozza said of LeVert. “I told him during the timeout, ‘Let me bring the ball up, and you’ve got to score. When you get to your spot, you just put your hands up, and I’ll get you the ball.’ That’s what he did the whole fourth quarter. He got to his spot.”

The end of regulation defied belief. The Celtics had a three-point lead and the ball with 3.6 seconds left, but Rodions Kurucs tied up Walker and won the jump ball before a Nets timeout. LeVert was fouled in three-point territory with 0.2 seconds left and made all three to send the game to overtime tied at 118.

“I’ve never had that before; that was very unique,” LeVert said. “But I was confident I was going to hit all three.”

LeVert scored eight straight points to open overtime and outscored the Celtics 11-2 by himself in the period to snap a four-game Nets (27-33) losing streak.

Marveling at LeVert’s play, Atkinson said, “It was just play after play. He got a big steal, and obviously, hitting those free throws at the end. A classic performance, a great, great performance.”

By Greg Logan

Gregory.Logan@newsday.comGregLogan1

Greg Logan has worked for Newsday since 1982 covering a wide array of sports and events, currently including the Brooklyn Nets beat.