Jayson Tatum game winner: Celtics steal show from Kyrie Irving, Nets

The Celtics defeated the Nets at the buzzer in Game 1. A Jayson Tatum game winner stole the show.

Marcus Smart made the play, of course, as he very well could’ve taken a final shot himself while surrounded by Nets defenders.

Instead, Smart made…the smart play (forgive the pun) and passed to the Celtics best player and MVP candidate Jayson Tatum. The All-Star Tatum combined a nifty spin with an easy lay-in to steal Game 1 from the Nets as time expired.

As great as Kyrie played down the stretch — and as much as he wanted to stick it to Boston fans with a win on their floor to start the series — the C’s take a 1-0 lead into Game 2. Expect this to be one hell of a first-round matchup.

Jayson Tatum game winner

Tatum’s game winner will live in Boston sports lore for years, especially considering how great Irving was in the fourth quarter, almost single-handedly bringing the Nets back from the dead. Brooklyn thought they had a victory in hand after Kevin Durant’s lucky baseline bucket, and Irving’s ridiculous three-pointer with under two minutes to go.

Unfortunately for the Nets, a Game 1 win wasn’t in the cards. It’s shaping up to be a long series. Should Brooklyn fall short, this one will sting even more.