The Boston Celtics have made it to the playoffs! Jayson Tatum led his team to their first win over the highly-favored Brooklyn Nets in Game 3. In the 125: 119 victory of the Celtics, the 23-year-old shows the best playoff game of his career so far.
Boston Celtics (7) – Brooklyn Nets (2) 125:119 (BOXSCORE) – Serie: 1-2
After Tatum had even led Boston into this duel with 50 points in the play-in tournament, he also followed up with 50 points (16/30) in the first home game of the playoffs and outshone two outstanding Nets stars. Tatum also distributed 7 assists and became the third youngest player in NBA history with a 50-point play in the playoffs, after Michael Jordan and Rick Barry.
He received support above all from the equally excellent Marcus Smart (23, 8/11) as well as Evan Fournier (17) and the tireless Tristan Thompson (19, 13 rebounds). “We’re playing against a monster from a team. We know that, the world knows. We’re not given anything here,” said Smart after the game.
In the end it was enough for Boston, although James Harden (41, 11/18, 10 assists) and Kevin Durant (39, 13/24) showed great games on the other side. Kyrie Irving, on the other hand, did not make a good game, even if he increased his score to 16 with two threes in the last quarter (6/17). Brooklyn let the Celtics, who stood with their backs to the wall, buy the guts off, especially in the duel for the rebounds (46:37).
The game marked Irving’s first guest appearance in Boston after he left the team in 2019 “in the bad” – accordingly, the point guard was in focus even before the game. In Boston only 25 percent of viewers were allowed, Irving booed them before the start of the game. These calls accompanied Irving for most of the game.
Celtics put away horror start against Brooklyn
Over the first few minutes it seemed to goad his teammate Harden, who contributed 10 points to an outstanding 19: 4 start of the guests – but it was not that one-sided afterwards, which was mainly caused by Tatum. The All-Star had 13 points in the first quarter, after a 10-0 run at the end the hosts even led 33:32 after a quarter.
Even in the second quarter, the Celtics were not ready to surrender to their fate. Durant and Harden were already at 17 points each, but Boston defended much better after the start of the disaster and limited Brooklyn’s offense, although Robert Williams also had to sign off injured during the game. Tatum could not be stopped at first, Thompson cleaned up under the basket, at the break the Celtics were in the front with 61:57 and Irving was only at 2 points.
In the third quarter, the game finally degenerated into a Tatum show. The 23-year-old scored 19 points in this round alone and was already at 40 points before the last quarter, a new career record in the playoffs. Smart was also in a great mood from outside and since Kyrie was barely showing off, the Celtics took a 96-84 lead into the last round.
Jayson Tatum counters 80 points from Harden and Durant
Irving thawed here and shortened to 7 points with two three-pointers, Tatum returned after a short break and countered. Boston now made too many fouls, so Brooklyn was in the bonus with just under five minutes before the end. Fournier hit a threesome, then Smart took on an offensive foul by Irving that made the hall riot – on the other hand, Walker put Boston back to +11. Still 3:35 minutes to play.
This lead against Durant and Harden was still not certain, especially since Tatum was now more often defended by Bruce Brown and did not come to an end so easily. In the final minute, Boston led by 7, then Irving hit two free throws, but Tatum countered with another dry jumper over Durant! An offensive foul by Durant then seemed to seal everything, after a strange challenge KD got a free throw and possession instead.
21.5 seconds before the end, KD hit another three, it was only 119: 123. But Brooklyn didn’t foul – Grant Williams was released instead and dunked the end of an incredible game.
“We try to protect our home court in order to get a victory at any cost. Sometimes we need such evenings for that,” said Tatum, who now set 50 points in the TD Garden for the second time in a row. A full hall will again be allowed in Boston for game 4: “I can hardly wait,” commented the match winner.
Nets vs. Celtics: All games in the series
| game | date | Time | Home | Away | Result |
| 1 | 23. May | 2 O ‘clock | Nets | Celtics | 104:93 |
| 2 | 26. May | 1:30 | Nets | Celtics | 130:108 |
| 3 | 29. May | 2.30 a.m. | Celtics | Nets | 125:119 |
| 4 | May 31 | 1 O ‘clock | Celtics | Nets | |
| 5 | 2. June | 1:30 | Nets | Celtics | |
| 6* | 4. June | tba | Celtics | Nets | |
| 7* | 6. June | tba | Nets | Celtics |
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