WHEW.
The Boston Celtics had their backs up against the wall against the Brooklyn Nets in Game 1 of their opening-round playoff series, and they were down one on Sunday with under four seconds to go.
And then? A game-winner, one that — as everyone on Twitter noted — put Kyrie Irving in a blender.
Marcus Smart faked a three-pointer that deked two Nets out of their kicks. Then, he drove and found a cutting Jayson Tatum, who spun around Irving and hit the buzzer-beating layup for a 115-114 win.
This is BASKETBALL with a capital B right here. Gorgeous, balletic, just a beauty:
WHAT. A. GAME. 🤯
TATUM @ THE BUZZER FTW!!! 🚨 #BLEEDGREEN
(via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/5xYN7B7fqC
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) April 17, 2022
one of the biggest benefits of not calling your last timeout to draw up a play: you prevent the other team from subbing in their best defenders.
after Marcus’ pump-fake disposed of Claxton, this was all that was left to defend the rim for Brooklyn. game over. pic.twitter.com/TttJHTJCma
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) April 17, 2022
That should give Celtics fans plenty to talk about after Irving appeared to flip them off earlier.