Boston Celtics: 3 takeaways from thrilling Game One win over Brooklyn
By Ryan Cinque
The Boston Celtics opened up their playoff campaign with a thrilling victory over the Brooklyn Nets in Game One.
Both teams fought back and forth all game long but the C’s were able to land the final blow, coming away with a 115-114 win.
They played phenomenal defense on both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant on their final defensive possession and forced Durant into an off-balanced shot. Boston was able to get the stop and secure the rebound to give themselves one last shot to win the game.
On the final possession, Jaylen Brown found Marcus Smart, who split two defenders and hit Jayson Tatum on the cut for a game-winning layup at the buzzer.
It was truly an exciting game to start their playoff series with a lot to unpack. Here are 3 takeaways from the C’s Game One win:
Boston Celtics takeaway No. 1) Al Horford turns back the clock
Al Horford has done everything the Boston Celtics have asked of him to and then some since his return to the team. He is fully aware of his role on this squad and will always put their success ahead of his own.
Even at 35 years of age, he proved once again how crucial he is to the Boston Celtics and their overall success.
The veteran center finished Sunday’s game with a stat line of 20 points and 15 rebounds while playing great defense. He played about as well as possible and made so many key plays when the Celtics needed them most.
He told the media that he would let his play do the talking in response to Bruce Brown’s comments, and that is exactly what happened.
He pumped up the TD Garden crowd on numerous occasions and pestered Kevin Durant on a few crucial defensive positions.
The Celtics getting Horford in exchange for Kemba Walker this past summer was a great move at the time, and his excellent playoff performance and veteran leadership further validates that trade.
This was undoubtedly Horford’s biggest performance since returning to the team and Boston needed every bit of it to win Game One.