NEW YORK — Jae Crowder scored a career-high 25 points with a strong start and a clutch finish, and the Boston Celtics beat the Brooklyn Nets 103-94 on Monday night to split a home-and-home series.

Crowder had 14 points in the first quarter, then was largely quiet until he hit a 3-pointer and added a three-point play after Brooklyn got close in the final minutes. He surpassed his previous best of 24 points by making a pair of free throws with 16 seconds remaining.

Nets center Brook Lopez and Celtics forward Amir Johnson get tangled up under the Nets’ basket in the first half of the Celtics’ 103-94 win. The Associated Press

Isaiah Thomas added 19 points for the Celtics, who rebounded from consecutive losses at home, including the Nets’ 100-97 victory on Saturday. Evan Turner, starting for the injured Avery Bradley, had 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Thaddeus Young had 23 points and a season-high 15 rebounds for the Nets, who have lost seven straight at home. Joe Johnson scored 21 points and Brook Lopez, the Eastern Conference player of the week, finished with 19.

The Nets lost starting point guard Jarrett Jack for the season with a torn ACL and small medial meniscus tear in his right knee in Saturday’s victory. New starter Shane Larkin managed just four points and two assists.

The Celtics lost at home last week to the Lakers and Nets, two of the NBA’s worst teams, but seemed to leave that poor play behind with a 37-point first quarter that gave them a 15-point lead.

They were ahead by as much as 19 but never put away the Nets, who drew within five with 3 minutes left. Crowder then hit a 3 to steady the Celtics.

Coach Brad Stevens inserted Kelly Olynyk into the starting lineup in place of Jared Sullinger, hoping for more perimeter shooting with guard Avery Bradley sidelined by a sore left hip. Olynyk scored nine, while Sullinger had 12 points and 10 rebounds.

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