BOSTON (AP) – Jason Tatum is adamant that he does not see the Celtics’ match with the Nets as a chance to prove something against two of the league’s top scorers.
His finale in Game 1 said otherwise.
Tatum made a buzzer with a pass from Marcus Smart to give Boston a dramatic 115-114 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.
“When he made this dribble, we just made eye contact. He made a great pass, “Tatum said. “It simply came to our notice then. Buzzer in a playoff game at home. ”
Tatum scored 31 points, the last two on the first buzzer of his career. It was Boston’s first post-season since Paul Pierce in 2010 against Heath.
Tatum’s bucket came after a balanced possession of Boston in the frantic last seconds. Kevin Durant missed on the other side, Boston bounced back and rushed up the court, choosing not to want a time-out.
Jaylan Brown dribbled to the middle and swung the ball at Smart. He fired at the cutting Tatum, who spun around and dropped into bed just before time ran out.
“I’ve always been told you have more time than you think you have,” Smart said. “I had to throw it to Al (Horford) out of the dribble and I saw JT cut it off at the last minute.”
All five Celtics touched the ball in possession.
“I think it’s a kind of microcosm for our season, the boys who move the ball are selfless,” said coach Ime Udoka.
Brown added 23 points for the Celtics, who host game 2 on Wednesday. Horford scored 20 points and 15 rebounds, and Smart finished with 20 points, including four 3 points.
Kyrie Irving finished with 39 points, including 18 in the fourth quarter. But the Celtics pulled the ball out of his hands the last time Brooklyn had it, and Durant missed a jumper one point ahead, putting the Celtics in final possession.
Durant added 23 points but shot only 9 of 24.
“They did a good job of kicking me out and then helping with the painting. I just need to be more grounded in my movements, “he said.” I feel like some of the shots went out. ”
Boston came out after the half with a series of 23-8 to open a 82-69 lead caused by Smart’s shooting beyond the arc.
The Celtics also seem to have changed their approach to guarding Durant in the middle of the court, standing him up and sending help from above to limit his ability to drive.
Durant and Irving were still finding ways to score, but they had to put in more energy to get out of their attempts.
Don’t go on.
With Boston leading at the start of the fourth, Irving put Brooklyn back in the mix with two consecutive 3 points and a run to reduce Boston’s lead to 98-97. Then, after an empty trip from Boston, during which Brown and Horford failed to transform up close, Durant calmly drained 3 from the other end.
Brooklyn increased their lead to 107-102 when Durant had a long jump. Brown found a place in the next possession of the Celtics and connected with 3 of the wing. The Nets brought him back after a foul in an attack on Durant. Smart then slipped under Irving on Boston’s warranty trip and tied him up.
The result was again equal to 109 with less than 2 minutes until the end, when Durant received a friendly rebound while jumping. Horford’s next shot equalized again. But Irving was good from the depths the next time he went down to the floor, giving the Nets a 114-111 cushion.
Brown then tied the score after a timeout with 38 seconds left.
On his last trip to face his former Boston teammates, Irving received the strongest taunts during the pre-match performance and was booed every time he touched the ball the rest of the way.
Fans also showered a lot of disdain on Bruce Brown, who made headlines last week after suggesting that Celtics greats Horford and Daniel Theis could easily attack inside without injured center Robert Williams III to protect the edge.
Horford played the first 12 minutes as a one-man mission to erase that notion.
Boston entered the league with the best defensive rating after the All Star break and put early pressure on Durant. He tried to establish himself in the position in the first quarter, but the Celtics hit him with the help of defenders, stripping him three times.
Brooklyn finished seven turnovers for the quarter, but that became a 29-28 lead for Boston.
Horford was active all the time, making 3 for 4 off the field with 10 points, two rebounds and a stolen ball.
Boston had to adjust early in the second quarter after Thays scored his third foul. But things leveled off when Drummond was booed for his fourth foul at 4:58 by the end of the period.
The Celtics immediately went 9-2 before the Nets came back to level the game at 61 at halftime.
“They stayed with that, made their shot and found a way to finish the game,” Horford said. “At the end of the day, it’s just a victory, no matter how it was.”
TYPE-INS
Nets: Brooklyn finished with 16 turns. … Durant and Irving shot a combined 1 for 8 from the field in the first quarter.
Celtics: Beat the Nets 56-32 in battle. … Williams applauds from the bench in street clothes. England New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and his son Jonathan Kraft sat on the court.
ELITE COMPANY
Horford is the 13th player in NBA history to record a playoff game with 20 points and 15 rebounds at the age of 35.
JELLY crowd
Irving had a moment of disappointment in the third quarter when he seemed to turn his middle finger on Boston fans as he ran across the court.
“The same energy they have for me, I will have the same energy for them. “It’s not every fan,” Irving said. “There are only, but so many that you can take as a competitor.”
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