Tatum scored 16 of his 31 points in the second half, the last two after a balanced Boston run in the frantic final seconds. Jalen Brown dribbled in the middle and threw the ball to Smart, who shot it at Tatum, who spun and fell into his lay just before time ran out. Dating back to last season, Tatum has four consecutive 30-point games in the playoffs, matching Larry Byrd in 1987 for the longest streak in Celtics history. His buzzer-beater was also the first in the Celtics playoffs after Paul Pierce in 2010 against the Miami Heat. Brown added 23 points. Al Horford had 20 points and 15 rebounds and Smart finished with 20 points, including four three-pointers. Kyrie Irving finished with 39 points, including 18 in the fourth quarter. But the Celtics pushed the ball out of his hands the last time Brooklyn had it and Kevin Durand missed a one-point lead that created the Celtics’ final possession. Durand added 23 points but made just 9 of 24.
Boston was charged at halftime with a series of 23-8 to open the lead with 82-69, which was triggered by Smart’s shot over the crossbar. The Celtics also seemed to modify their approach to guarding Durant at half-court, putting him in front and sending help from the top to limit his driving ability. Durand and Irving were still finding ways to score from time to time, but they had to work hard to get away with it. It did not last. With Boston leading early in the quarter, Irving restored Brooklyn with two three-pointers and a lay-up to reduce Boston’s lead to 98-97 with just over 9 minutes left. Then, after an empty trip from Boston that saw Brown and Horford fail to take a close-up corner, Durand calmly left a 3 on the other end to put the Nets ahead. Brooklyn had increased their lead to 107-102 when Durand was a long jump. Brown found a place in the next possession of the Celtics and was connected with 3 from the wing. The Nets turned it into an offensive foul on Durand. The Smart slipped under Irving on the secured Boston trip and tied it with a lay-up. The score was tied again at 109, with less than 2 minutes left when Durant took a friendly bounce on a jumper to restore Brooklyn. Horford’s next shot equalized again. But Irving was good from deep down next time under the floor and gave the Nets a 114-111 cushion. Brown made a layout coming out of time out with 38 seconds left. On his last trip to face his former teammates in Boston, Irving received the loudest jokes during pre-game introductions and was reprimanded whenever he touched the ball the rest of the way. Fans also showed considerable contempt for Bruce Brown, who made headlines last week after suggesting the Celtics’ great men, Horford and Daniel Theis, could easily attack inside the uninjured Robert Williams III center available to defend lip. Horford played the first 12 minutes as if he were on a mission to eliminate the idea. Boston came in with the best defensive score in the league since the All-Star break and put pressure on Durant early. He tried to establish himself on the crossbar in the first quarter, but the Celtics succeeded with the defenders assisting on the flank, stripping him three times. Brooklyn finished with seven reversals in the tenth minute, but translated into only a 29-28 lead for Boston. Horford was active throughout, going 3-for-4 from the field with 10 points, two rebounds and one steal. Boston had to adjust early in the second half after Theis got his third foul. But things normalized when Drummond whistled for his fourth foul with 4:58 remaining at the end of the period. The Celtics went straight into a 9-2 streak before the Nets returned to equalize at 61st at halftime. ESPN Stats & Information and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
