The Celtics, carried by Jayson Tatum, author of 54 points, had the last word on Sunday (126-120) against the Brooklyn Nets of Kevin Durant, who became the 23rd player in NBA history to pass the symbolic bar of 25,000 units.
Boston is the team in great shape in the championship. This victory is their 14th in the last 16 meetings. Enough to consolidate their 5th place (39-27) in the East, while getting closer to the Chicago Bulls and the Milwaukee Bucks (39-25).
Tatum, who tied the franchise record for most games to at least 50 points (4), previously owned by legendary Larry Bird, was once again the C’s strongman. His 18 points in the last quarter eventually got the better of Brooklyn’s resistance.
The winger was also well helped by Jaylen Brown (21 points), who scored a crucial basket behind the arc in the final seconds to inflate the gap to six lengths.
For his second game since his return from injury (he missed 21 games due to a sprained left knee), Kevin Durant has long maintained hopes of a victory for the Nets, with 37 points (12/21 on shots , 8 assists, 6 rebounds). Especially since he found, for the fourth time this season only, Kyrie Irving (19 pts).
Despite this fourth setback in a row which sinks them to 9th place, synonymous with playoffs for the playoffs, the Nets have logically evolved to another level of play than when they are devoid of their stars.
