Boston Celtics: 3 takeaways from thrilling Game One win over Brooklyn

Boston Celtics takeaway No. 2) Jayson Tatum out-duels Kevin Durant

Arguably the biggest storyline coming into this series was the battle between Jayson Tatum and Kevin Durant. Tatum and Durant are two of the league’s premier talents and they both share a similar play style.

Tatum played great in the first battle between these two superstars while Durant struggled to find a consistent rhythm.

KD was unable to get going early. The Boston Celtics contested every one of his mid-range jumpers and forced him into a few early turnovers.

He finished the first half shooting just 2-for-10 from the field while coughing up four turnovers.

Tatum, on the other hand, had a very solid first half, as he scored 15 points and dished out seven assists.

In the second half, both players began to heat up, but it was the younger wing who, again, made the key plays for his team. Durant was able to score 23 points and hit some big shots in the fourth, but he was just a level below Tatum in Game One.

The 24-year-old finished with 31 points, four rebounds, and eight assists on 9-for-18 shooting from the field and 3-for-7 shooting from deep.

He was able to cap off his 31-point night with a game-winning layup at the buzzer to seal the victory for Boston.

Kevin Durant probably won’t play this poorly again all series, and Tatum will need to keep out-dueling him if the Boston Celtics are to win this first round.