Celtics advance in 2022 playoffs after completing sweep of Nets
The Celtics are moving on. They defeated the Nets 116-112 in Game 4, surviving the end without Jayson Tatum and completing a four-game sweep.
Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics square off during the first quarter of Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on April 25, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Elsa/Getty ImagesThe Boston Celtics are moving on to the second round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs. They defeated the Brooklyn Nets by a 116-112 final score Monday night at Barclays Center, surviving the final minutes of the game with Jayson Tatum unavailable and completing a four-game sweep.
Tatum fouled out with 2:48 left in the fourth quarter and the Celtics clinging to a six-point lead, and Kyrie Irving immediately drained a three-pointer to cut the Celtics' lead to three. The Nets were able to get within one point. But a missed free-throw by Kevin Durant with 22 seconds left ended up going the other way for an Al Horford tip-in off an attempt by Marcus Smart, giving the C's a four-point lead with 13.7 seconds left. They never looked back from there.
The game wasn't always that close. Boston led by as many as 10 points during the first quarter, but ended up with a 30-26 lead after one. The Celtics extended their lead to eight at halftime, finishing the second quarter with a Grant Williams three-pointer to make it 58-50.
Tatum followed up 12 first-half points with 12 more in the third quarter alone, helping further extend the Celtics' lead to 90-78 after three quarters. He added five more points in the fourth quarter for a total of 29 before fouling out.
Brooklyn lost despite the best efforts of Kevin Durant, who came alive offensively for a game-high 39 points to finish an otherwise quiet series for him. Kyrie Irving finished with 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting, while Seth Curry scored 23 in the losing effort.
For the Celtics, Smart scored 20 points and added five rebounds and 11 assists. Jaylen Brown scored 22 on 9-of-20 shooting, and pulled down eight rebounds. The Celtics out-rebounded the Nets 45-38 as a team.
Grant Williams came up big for the C's in the first half with 12 points, including 4-of-5 shooting from three-point range. He finished with 14 points and also played consistently strong defense against the Nets' frontcourt, blocking three shots in the process. On the Nets' bench, Nic Claxton's struggles at the free-throw line proved costly, as he shot just 1-of-11 on freebies.
Boston now awaits the winner of the series between the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls in the second round. Entering Tuesday, the Bucks lead that series 3-1.
The Boston Celtics took on the Brooklyn Nets in Game 4 of their first-round 2022 NBA playoff series on Monday night at Barclays Center. Check out photos from the game below.
Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets - Game Four
Elsa/Getty ImagesKevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics square off during the first quarter of Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on April 25, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets - Game Four
Elsa/Getty ImagesRobert Williams III #44 of the Boston Celtics dunks in the third quarter as Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets defends during Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on April 25, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NBA: Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets
Brad Penner-USA TODAY SportsApr 25, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) controls the ball against Brooklyn Nets guard Patty Mills (8) during the second quarter of game four of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets
Brad Penner-USA TODAY SportsApr 25, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) controls the ball against Brooklyn Nets guard Seth Curry (30) and forward Nic Claxton (33) during the first quarter of game four of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets
Brad Penner-USA TODAY SportsApr 25, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) is fouled as he drives to the basket by Brooklyn Nets center Andre Drummond (0) in front of Nets forward Bruce Brown (1) during the first quarter of game four of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets - Game Four
Elsa/Getty ImagesJayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts after he is called for a foul in the first quarter against the Brooklyn Nets in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on April 25, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NBA: Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets
Brad Penner-USA TODAY SportsApr 25, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Blake Griffin (2) controls the ball against Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams (12) during the second quarter of game four of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets
Brad Penner-USA TODAY SportsApr 25, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) and center Daniel Theis (27) during the first quarter of game four of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets
Brad Penner-USA TODAY SportsApr 25, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Seth Curry (30) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) during the second quarter of game four of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets
Brad Penner-USA TODAY SportsApr 25, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) controls the ball against Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) during the second quarter of game four of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets - Game Four
Elsa/Getty ImagesKevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets celebrates his three point shot in the first quarter against the Boston Celtics during Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on April 25, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets – Game Four
Elsa/Getty ImagesKevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets heads down court in the first quarter against the Boston Celtics in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on April 25, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets - Game Four
Elsa/Getty ImagesKevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets passes the ball as he is pressured by Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics in the second quarter during Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on April 25, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NBA: Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets
Brad Penner-USA TODAY SportsApr 25, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams (12) reacts after hitting a three point shot against the Brooklyn Nets during the second quarter of game four of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets - Game Four
Elsa/Getty ImagesJaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics dunks as Nic Claxton #33 of the Brooklyn Nets defends in the first half during Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on April 25, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
