Jayson Tatum’s 54 leads Celtics past Durant, Irving, Nets 126-120

Jayson Tatum scored a season-high 54 factors — 34 of them within the second half — and the Boston Celtics overcame a uncommon look of each Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving within the Nets lineup, beating Brooklyn 126-120 on Sunday.

Durant performed in his second sport since mid-January and scored 37 for the Nets to turn into the twenty third participant in NBA historical past to achieve 25,000 factors. Irving joined him for simply the fourth time all season, scoring 19 in his first sport in three weeks and his first in Boston since he was pelted with a water bottle throughout the playoffs.

Jaylen Brown, who was cleared to return to Boston’s lineup after testing his sprained ankle pregame, scored 21 for the Celtics. He beat the 24-second clock to hit a 3-pointer and provides Boston a 121-115 lead within the last minute.

Durant missed a jumper the following time down — complaining that he was fouled, with no luck. Tatum was fouled the following possession and, as “MVP!” chants rang out within the TD Backyard, he hit one in all two free throws to surpass his earlier season excessive of 51.

The Celtics have gained 5 of their final six and 21 of their final 27 video games.

EARLY ON

The Nets scored 11 straight factors halfway by means of the third and opened their largest lead of the sport, 90-81, with simply over a minute left within the quarter. However Boston scored eight in a row to chop it to 1 level, then took the lead on the primary basket of the fourth.

The Celtics opened a 108-100 lead in the course of the fourth.

UNHAPPY RETURNS

Irving was booed by Boston followers nonetheless irked that he opted out of his contract after professing his love for the town. On his final go to — the Celtics’ first full home because the pandemic started — a fan threw a water bottle at him when he left the courtroom following a playoff victory.

Irving stomped on the Celtics’ leprechaun emblem at midcourt after that sport. On Sunday, former Celtics Glen “Huge Child” Davis was sitting courtside carrying a T-shirt that learn “Respect the Brand.”

TIP-INS

Nets: Irving had missed seven straight video games and didn’t play within the Feb. 8 sport in opposition to Boston in Brooklyn due to New York Metropolis’s COVID-19 vaccine necessities. … Durant missed 21 straight video games earlier than returning Thursday night time.

Celtics: Nick Stauskas, the No. 8 general decide within the 2014 draft, signed with Boston over the weekend however didn’t play. He performed in two video games for Miami this season and 26 video games for the Grand Rapids Gold of the G League. … Signed forwards Malik Fitts and Kelan Martin to their second 10-day contracts. They every have performed in a single sport for the Celtics and didn’t get off the bench on Sunday.

UP NEXT

Nets: At Charlotte on Tuesday.

Celtics: At Charlotte on Wednesday.