BOSTON – Jason Tatum insisted the Boston Celtics’ recreation with the Brooklyn Nets wasn’t a chance to show something towards the league’s two prime scorers.
His ending in Recreation 1 mentioned in any other case.
Tatum took a nook kick on the bell after a move from Marcus Good to offer Boston a dramatic 115-114 victory on Sunday within the first recreation of the first-round sequence.
Tatum mentioned of Good: “When he took that dribble we form of made eye contact. He made an incredible move. It could not have been higher. Bell beat in a house playoff.”
Tatum scored 31 factors, the final two on the primary whistle of his profession. It was Boston’s first in a post-season since Paul Pierce in 2010 towards the Miami Warmth.
Bucket Tatum got here after a balanced possession of Boston within the frantic remaining seconds. After Kevin Durant missed the opposite finish, the Celtics rebounded and raced onto the sector, selecting to not name a timeout.
Jaylen Brown dribbles into the center and swings the ball to Good. He then shoots it into Tatum’s piece, which spins round and falls into the layup simply earlier than time is up.
Good mentioned, “I’ve all the time been instructed you’ve extra time than you understand you’ve. I used to be about to throw it at Al [Horford] From shuffle, I noticed JT lower off on the final minute. ”
All 5 Celtics groups touched the ball in possession.
“I believe that is form of a microcosm of our season,” Boston coach Im Odoka mentioned. “The gamers who transfer the ball are selfless.”
Courting again to the final post-season, Tatum has had 4 consecutive 30-point playoff video games, matching Larry Chook in 1987 for the longest streak in Celtics historical past.
Brown added 23 factors. Horford scored 20 factors and 15 rebounds. Good completed with 20 factors, together with 4 three-pointers.
Kyrie Irving put 39 factors, together with 18 within the fourth quarter. However the Celtics took the ball out of their arms the final time Brooklyn received the ball, and Durant missed the bounce by one level, resulting in the Celtics’ remaining possession.
Durant added 23 factors however shot 9 of 24.
“They did job of forcing me to step away, after which serving to to color. I needed to be extra substantial in my actions,” Durant mentioned. “I really feel like some photographs went out and in for me.”
Boston kicked off the break 23-8 to open an 82-69 lead, ignited by Good’s useless shot from behind the arc.
The Celtics additionally seem like modifying their method to Durant’s guard within the half, dealing with him and sending assists to the highest to restrict his skill to guide.
Durant and Irving nonetheless discovered methods to attain, however they needed to put in additional vitality to do away with their makes an attempt.
didn’t final.
With Boston taking an early lead in fourth, Irving put Brooklyn again into the combo with 3 consecutive throws and throws to trim Boston’s benefit to 98-97. After an empty flight from Boston which noticed Brown and Horford fail to divert from method, Durant quietly exhausted 3 on the opposite finish.
Brooklyn elevated its result in 107-102 when Durant was tall with a jacket. Brown discovered house within the Celtics’ subsequent possession and known as 3 from the winger. Returned the web after an offensive error on Durant. Good then slipped below Irving on her certain Boston flight and hooked it up.
The rating was tied once more at 109 with lower than two minutes remaining when Durant acquired a pleasant rebound on a bounce. Horford’s subsequent shot tied once more. However Irving did effectively from the depths the following time the Nets gave a 114-111 cushion.
Brown then tied it in with a timeout with 38 seconds left.
On his final journey to face his former Boston teammates, Irving acquired the loudest taunts throughout pre-game introductions and booed at any time when he touched the ball the remainder of the best way.
Followers additionally drew a lot contempt for Bruce Brown, who made headlines final week after suggesting that Horford and Daniel Theiss prime Celtics males may very well be straightforward to assault indoors and not using a third injured Robert Williams out there to defend the sting.
Horford performed the opening 12 minutes as if he was on a solo mission to erase that notion.
Boston entered the highest defensive rank within the league since breaking the All-Star and placing strain early on Durant. He tried to pin himself to the publish within the first quarter, however the Celtics stripped his butt defenders, stripping him thrice.
Brooklyn completed seven turnovers for the quarter, however translated to a 29-28 lead just for Boston.
Horford was energetic on a regular basis, going 3-4 from the sector with 10 factors, two rebounds and a steal.
Boston needed to alter early within the second quarter after Theiss made his third foul. However issues received worse when Andre Drummond, middle of Brooklyn, was blown for his fourth foul with 4:58 remaining in that interval.
The Celtics shortly took a 9-2 lead, earlier than the Nets got here again to tie the sport at 61 within the first half.
“I saved that up, they hit their shot they usually discovered a method to end the sport,” Horford mentioned. “Finish of the day, it’s nearly successful; it doesn’t matter the way it was.”
ESPN Stats & Info and The Related Press contributed to this report.
