Two of the brightest young talents in the NBA's Eastern Conference went at each other Saturday night. D'Angelo Russell and Jaylen Brown both scored personal victories.

The game between Russell's Brooklyn Nets and Brown's Boston Celtics contained a battle within the larger competition. Russell and Brown displayed the skill and cleverness which have marked them as the future of the NBA, stars who will leave a large imprint on the league in the 2020s.

Russell made a statement in this mano-a-mano battle by dropping this little bowl of ice cream into the hoop. A D'Angelo Russell scoop shot is a treat for basketball fans of all ages:

Jaylen Brown, however, is too good a defender to get outfoxed twice by the same move, especially not on consecutive plays. Russell felt he could sneak another artistic shot attempt past Brown, but the Celtics' forward was having none of it.

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The one-on-one theater involving D'Angelo Russell and Jaylen Brown in the first half was compelling, but as the night unfolded inside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the Nets took the upper hand. Russell was the main engine behind a superb offensive performance from the Nets against Brad Stevens' defense. The Nets rolled to a 110-96 victory, with Russell scoring 29 points and handing out 10 assists. Russell hit 12 of 24 field goal attempts in a complete display of his basketball artistry.

This season has been an immense source of professional satisfaction for Russell. He has been unshackled in Brooklyn after being trapped in misery with the Los Angeles Lakers. D'Angelo Russell has been able to unlock his talents with the Nets, and that evolution in his game has carried a considerable impact on Brooklyn's fortunes. The Nets were stuck in recent seasons but have a reasonable chance of making the playoffs.

This win over Boston enabled the Nets to remain one game ahead of the Orlando Magic for a playoff spot, and half a game ahead of the Miami Heat for the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference.