Celtics-Nets recap: Jayson Tatum drills the game-winner in OT

Jayson Tatum was the hero for the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night, drilling the game-winner at the buzzer to defeat the Brooklyn Nets in overtime, 125-124.

It was a wild back-and-forth matchup at TD Garden, and it fittingly went to OT after Nets rookie Mikel Brown Jr. drilled the game-tying 3-pointer with two seconds left in regulation. Derrick White put the C's up by three with an and-one dunk, but Brown got the chance to tie it after Mitchell Robinson missed two free throws and Neemias Queta set Brooklyn up perfectly with a poorly-timed foul.

In OT, White appeared to draw a foul that would give him a chance to tie or win the game at the free-throw line. However, the Nets challenged the foul call and it was overturned, keeping Boston behind by one point.

With 2.3 seconds left in overtime, White inbounded the ball to Tatum, who pulled up from the free-throw line and buried the game-winner at the buzzer:

The clutch shot capped off a phenomenal performance from Tatum. The Celtics superstar finished with 40 points (10-20 FG), eight assists, and five rebounds. He was 18-for-22 from the free-throw line, notching a new career high for free-throw attempts in a game.

Paul George added 20 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. White tallied 16 points and six assists. Jordan Walsh chipped in with 15 points, including three 3's.

Boston shot 11-for-41 (27 percent) from 3-point range in the win. It made only two 3's in the first half.

The Celtics' dramatic win spoiled valiant efforts by Nets standouts Michael Porter Jr. (27 points, 12 rebounds) and Julius Randle (24 points, nine rebounds). Brown (17 points), Chaney Johnson (15 points), and Mo Wagner (15 points) also played big roles for Brooklyn.

Boston will take a three-game win streak into Friday's NBA Cup showdown with the Chicago Bulls. As for the Nets, they're still seeking their first win of the 2026-27 season.

Derrick White received MVP chants at TD Garden after his and-one dunk tied the game late in the fourth quarter. White looked hilariously confused upon hearing the chants at the free-throw line.

Jayson Tatum, however, knows exactly why Celtics fans chanted MVP at his beloved teammate.

“Favorite teammate, one of my favorite people," Tatum said. "(Celtics fans) know what winning basketball is … when you’re competing, when you’re making plays. That’s their way of putting energy into the game.”

Jayson Tatum missed almost all of last season while recovering from an Achilles tear. The Celtics star spoke after his OT game-winner about whether he entered this season with something to prove:

"Motivation was just about being present," he said. "I learned a lot about myself when I was injured, and I always say, before I tore my Achilles...I thought we had this window to try to win as many championships as possible with that team...My perspective changed. Just being present, in the moment."

"When something is taken away from you, innately, you just appreciate it more. I was grateful to be in training camp, I was grateful to be in the preseason. Enjoy being in this process again."

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla will enjoy the win tonight, but he says the team will "handle this like a loss tomorrow and get better."

Boston gave Brooklyn several opportunities to win up until Jayson Tatum came through with the game-winner in OT:

Paul George finished Tuesday's win over the Nets with 20 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. The 36-year-old, who has been limited by injuries in recent seasons, shared a positive outlook on his health after the game:

“I feel great," he said. "Again, I think, knock on wood, those days are behind me. I've been feeling really good health-wise. But the main goal is to get to the end of the year and be healthy at the end of the year.”