Jayson Tatum drilled a buzzer-beating turnaround jumper in overtime to clinch a wild 125-124 victory for the Boston Celtics over the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night, but honestly, it should never have gotten there. The Celtics were on the brink of disaster, with an Atlantic Division contest they had all but won almost slipping away in the final seconds.
From “All But Won” to Overtime Chaos
Boston truly had this one in the bag, but a critical misstep nearly cost them everything. Celtics center Mitchell Robinson missed a crucial pair of free throws late in regulation, opening the door for the Nets. Brooklyn rookie Mikel Brown Jr. wasted no time, burying a late fadeaway triple that miraculously sent the game to overtime. Talk about a gut punch when you thought victory was secured! But Tatum, as he always does, refused to flinch when the pressure was cranked to eleven. He put up 6 of his massive 40 points in the extra period, playing an astounding 42 minutes without a single turnover. The man was a machine, adding 8 assists and 5 rebounds to his stat line, even attempting a career-high 22 free throws. His teammate, Paul George, also showed up big, dropping 20 points on a solid 50 percent shooting performance.
The Rookie’s Blunder That Changed Everything
Here’s the kicker: the Nets almost stole this one, a win no one saw coming, thanks to Brown Jr.’s heroics that sent it to OT. Yet, that same rookie then made a “poor decision” at the very end of overtime, a move that undoubtedly cost Brooklyn the game. With only two seconds left on the clock, Brown Jr. drove to the basket for a layup. Seriously? In that situation, you gotta hold onto the ball, draw a foul, and get to the line. He missed the driving shot, and that mistake gave Jayson Tatum just enough time on the other end to cash in for the buzzer-beater. You just know that’s a play he’ll be replaying in his head all season.
The Celtics are now rolling at 3-1 on the season, continuing their dominance over the Nets with 12 wins in their last 13 meetings. Brooklyn, meanwhile, remains winless at 0-4 despite their valiant effort at TD Garden. Boston won’t get much rest, as they’re set to host the Chicago Bulls on Friday night, a team they absolutely thumped by 35 points just a couple of days ago on Monday. Let’s see if they can keep that momentum rolling!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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