Jayson Tatum saved the best for the final tick. With the overtime clock running out on Tuesday night, the Boston star rose for a jumper from the elbow, roughly 17 feet out, and watched it fall as the horn sounded to give the Celtics a 125-124 home win over the Brooklyn Nets.
Boston should never have needed the extra period. The hosts were four points clear with four seconds left in regulation, only for Julius Randle to trim the gap at the line and rookie Mikel Brown Jr., this year’s No. 6 pick, to bury an off-balance three with 0.2 seconds remaining. When Brooklyn then opened a five-point cushion in overtime, Tatum took over, driving a 6-0 closing run that he finished himself.
It was that kind of game from start to finish: 15 ties, 10 lead changes and never more than eight points between the teams. Tatum shot 10-for-20 from the floor and set a career high by making 18 of 22 free throws, while also handing out eight assists.
The night carried extra weight for the forward. It was his 30th career game of 40 points or more, a tally only Larry Bird, with 47, has topped in a Celtics jersey. It was also his first 40-point outing since March 2025, two months before an Achilles tear sidelined him for a long stretch.
Paul George chipped in 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, and Derrick White added 16 as Boston made it three wins in a row. Michael Porter Jr. led Brooklyn with 27 points and 12 rebounds, and Randle finished with 24.
