The highly anticipated NBA playoffs matchup between the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets lived up to the bulling. The two star-studded teams took an incredibly close game down to the wire, ending with a Jayson Tatum game-winner.
Kyrie Irving scored 39 points on 12-20 shooting in front of a raucous Boston crowd. Kevin Durant and Jaylen Brown each scored 23 points. The headliner for the evening, though, was Tatum, who scored 31 points and ended the game with a marvelous spinning layup. The Celtics took a 1-0 series lead in an exhilarating fashion.
🚨 JAYSON TATUM CALLS GAME 🚨
31 PTS
8 AST9-of-18 FGpic.twitter.com/pIIy3XGkQp
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 17, 2022
Several players across the NBA world reacted to the Celtics taking down the Nets in the instant classic and the Jayson Tatum game-winner.
Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal let it be known that he is excited to watch the rest of this series. Just a few days after saying Tatum had sky-high potential, he made one of the most incredible shots in the history of the NBA playoffs.
This series 🔥🔥🔥🔥 JT SPIN CYCLE
— Bradley Beal (@RealDealBeal23) April 17, 2022
Charlotte Hornets star Miles Bridges was thoroughly impressed by the game-winner and the game itself.
What a game!!
— Miles Bridges (@MilesBridges) April 17, 2022




JT for game 😳
— Miles Bridges (@MilesBridges) April 17, 2022
Charles Barkley nearly jumped out of his seat on the Inside the NBA set. Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson were also impressed by Tatum's shot and the Celtics' win.
"UNBELIEVABLE!"
The Inside crew reacts to Jayson Tatum's clutch game-winner in Boston. pic.twitter.com/vsHp3yLl4e
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 17, 2022
And in case you need a quick recap, let Magic Johnson help you out. The Los Angeles Lakers legend praised both teams for such a fantastic game.
Game 1 of the Brooklyn vs. Boston series was so exciting I can only imagine what the next 6 games will look like! The game came down to a layup by Jayson Tatum who finished with 31 points.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 17, 2022
This first-round series between the Celtics and Nets could be one of the most exciting series of this year's NBA playoffs, if not the past few years. The Jayson Tatum game-winner is only the start.