On April 18, Beijing time, the Celtics narrowly defeated the Nets at home 114-113, leading 1-0 on aggregate. Tatum had 31 points and eight assists to press the whistle to make a layup! Brown 21 points, Smart 20 points, Horford 20 points. Irving 34 points, Durant 23 points. The Nets and the Green Army drew 61 in the first half, with the Green Army leading by up to 15 points in the third quarter, and the Nets overtook at one point in the final quarter, but still lost to their opponents. Durant surpassed Lakers star West in his playoff career total and rose to eighth place in history, but unfortunately he failed to win the game.
Statistics
Nets: Irving 39 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals, Durant 23 points, Dragic 14 points, Clarkston 13 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks
Celtics: Tatum had 31 points and eight assists, Jaylen Brown had 23 points, five rebounds, four steals and two blocks, Smart had 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists, and Horford had 20 points and 15 rebounds
Star of the Field: Tatum
Tatum blasted 31 points and staged a whistle-blowing spree!
Game tidbits
Bruce Brown's remarks were posted on the big screen at the Green Army's home stadium, and he once said that "Robert Williams of the Green Army is not here, we want to attack Horford and Theiss more"
When Irving was introduced, the Green Army's home stadium was booed! He had a calm face and used his fingers to the sky! Irving played for the Celtics for two seasons, averaging 24.1 points per game. In this game, every time Irving holds the ball, the Green Army fans will boo. There are fans holding posters that read "Kyrie (Owen) is the enemy"!
In this game, Durant surpassed Jerry West (4457 points) in his playoff career total and rose to eighth all-time! Of the active players, only James has more playoff totals than him.
Highlight moments
Jaylen Brown flew into the dunk!
Tatum threw the ball and Horford took the dunk!
Durant faced a two-man defense and shot 2+1!
Dragic's dragon attack into 2+1!
Tatum singled Durant, turned over and hit a mid-range shot!
Irving's clever pass to the bottom corner, Mills hit a three-point shot!
Smart steals Owen's serve and flies off to chop!
In the final quarter, Irving hit three consecutive points to help the Nets reverse the score!
Tatum whistles the kill!
Game review
In the first quarter, Seth Curry scored in a mid-range shot, Jaylen Brown and Drummond sent each other a dunk, Horford and Smart hit three points in a row, and Durant also returned the shot, and the two sides were glued. Horford hit another three-pointer after receiving a dunk, and the Celtics led by seven points. Seth Curry hit a three-pointer, Clarkston scored on a layup and the Nets responded with a 7-0 run to equalize. White hit a three-pointer and Seth Curry made two free throws. In the first quarter, the Celtics led the Nets 29-28, accumulating 18 fouls on both sides, setting a record for the NBA's total of first-quarter fouls this season. Durant and Irving combined 1 of 8 in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Pritchard hit a three-pointer, and Dragic and Tatum scored on a layup. Irving burst out, scoring 9 points in a row, and the Nets overtook the Celtics. Horford scored four straight points, Durant scored 2+1, and Tatum hit another three-pointer to give seven straight points. Brown also hit a layup, and the Celtics went 13-4 to lead the Nets by six points. Clarkston dunked, Dragic scored 2+1, Irving hit a shot, the Nets responded with a wave of 7-0, Smart scored consecutive baskets, Mills hit three-pointers, and at halftime, the Nets drew 61-61 with the Celtics.
In the first half, the Nets' Irving had 15 points, Dragic had 11 points, and Durant had 2 of 10 points, scoring only seven points. Celtics' Tatum had 15 points and seven assists, Horford had 14 points and Jaylen Brown had eight points.
Easy side fight again, Horford hooked the score, Durant, Tatum hit each other's shots, Smart stole dunks and hit three points, and the Green Army stopped the Nets 9-0. Durant scored four straight points, Irving threw a score, Smart hit a three-pointer, Jaylen Brown and Tatum hit consecutive free throws, and the Green Army has led by 15 points. Durant hit a mid-range shot, and Dragic and Tatum scored three points against each other. Durant hit another shot, Clarkston and Horford scored, Irving hit a mid-range shot, Jaylen Brown scored on a layup, and Tatum hit a three-pointer after Durant. At the end of the third quarter, the Celtics led the Nets 96-85.
In the final quarter, Bruce Brown and Clarkston sent consecutive dunks, Tatum made two free throws, Irving scored 8 points, Durant hit a three-pointer, Irving scored a layup, and the Nets played a wave of 13-0, surpassing the Celtics by 4 points. Jaylen Brown dunked, breaking the Green Army scoring drought, and Clarkston scored with a layup. Irving hit three-pointers, Jaylen Brown hit a three-pointer, smart scored on a layup, and the two sides drew 107. Irving hit a mid-range shot, White scored on a layup, Durant hit a mid-range shot, Irving hit a three-pointer, Brown scored on a layup, and Tatum pressed a whistle to make a layup! The Celtics narrowly beat the Nets by one point!
Both sides started
Nets: Irving, Seth Curry, Bruce Brown, Durant, Drummond
Celtics: Smart, Jaylen Brown, Tatum, Horford, Theis