BOSTON Jayson TatumMade a layup at a buzzer on a pass. Marcus SmartTo give the Boston CelticsDramatic victory by 115-114 over the Brooklyn NetsIn Game 1 of the first round playoff series, on Sunday.
Tatum scored 16 of his 31 points during the second period, the final two following a Boston possession in frantic last seconds. Jaylen BrownSmart dribbled towards the middle, and Smart tossed the ball to him. Tatum then turned around and dropped his layup just as time expired.
Tatum’s streak of consecutive 30-point playoffs games dates back to the last postseason. This is the same streak as Larry Bird’s 1987 streak for longest in Celtics history. Tatum’s buzzer beater was also the Celtics’ first playoffs win since Paul Pierce, 2010 against the Celtics. Miami Heat.
Brown added 23 more points. Al HorfordSmart had 20 points and 15 rebound, while Smart finished with 20. Smart also made four 3-pointers.
Kyrie IrvingThe game ended with 39 points for the Celtics, with 18 in each quarter. The Celtics took the ball from him the last time Brooklyn had it. Kevin DurantA jumper missed with a lead of one point that was the catalyst for the Celtics’ last possession.
Durant scored 23 points, but only shot 9 of 24.
Boston surged to the end of halftime, opening a lead of 82-69 with a 23-8 win. Smart’s dead-eye shooting beyond the arc was the catalyst.
The Celtics seemed to have a different approach to protecting Durant in the half court. They fronted him and sent help to the top to limit his driving abilities.
Durant and Irving were still able to score sometimes, but they needed to work harder.
It didn’t work.
Boston was leading in the fourth. Irving scored two straight 3-pointers to get Brooklyn back in the game. He also made a layup to reduce Boston’s advantage by 98 to 97 with 9 minutes left. Durant calmly scored a three on the other end, putting the Nets ahead after a boring Boston trip that saw Horford and Brown both fail to convert.
Brooklyn’s lead was 107 to102 after Durant was fouled with a jumper. Brown was able to find space on the Celtics next possession and hit a 3-pointer from the wing. Durant was fouled by the Nets and it was turned over to them. Smart moved underneath Irving on Boston’s ensuring trip and tied it up with a layup.
With less than two minutes remaining, the score was tied at 109. Durant received a friendly bounce on his jumper to bring Brooklyn back up. Horford’s second shot tied the score again. Irving, however, was able to score from deep down the floor giving the Nets a cushion of 114-111.
Brown tied the game after a timeout, with 38 seconds remaining.
Irving was jeered loudly during his pregame introductions, and booed every time he touched the ball throughout his trip to Boston.
Many fans also showed disdain for the actress. Bruce BrownAfter suggesting that Horford and the Celtics were big men, he made headlines last Wednesday Daniel TheisIt may be possible to attack from the inside without injuring the center Robert Williams IIIAvailable to defend the rim.
Horford’s first 12 minutes were played as if he was on an all-out mission to erase that notion.
Boston arrived with the league’s best defensive rating, and put pressure on Durant. He attempted to position himself at the post in the first half, but the Celtics attacked him with backside assist defenders and stripped him three times.
Brooklyn ended the quarter with seven turnovers, but Boston held a 29-28 advantage.
Horford was on the court all game, scoring 10 points, two rebounds, and a steal.
Boston was forced to adjust quickly in the second half after Theis had picked up his third foul. Things turned around when Drummond was whistled with 4:58 remaining in the period for his fourth foul.
The Celtics went on a 9-2 run immediately before the Nets regrouped to tie the game at 61.
This report was contributed by The Associated Press.