Jayson Tatum scored 40 points and hit a buzzer-beating jumper in overtime to give the Boston Celtics a dramatic 125-124 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. Boston had only 2.3 seconds for its final possession after falling behind 124-123, but Tatum caught the ball near the elbow and converted as time expired. The shot capped a game that swung repeatedly in the fourth quarter and overtime and gave the Celtics one of the most dramatic wins of the early NBA season.
Tatum delivered when Boston needed him
Tatum carried a large share of the scoring load and also made a career-high 18 free throws on 22 attempts.
His ability to attack the rim helped Boston survive a difficult first half from three-point range.
Brooklyn nearly stole it in regulation
Mikel Brown Jr. hit a three-pointer with one second left in the fourth quarter to force overtime.
That shot came after Boston had fought back from multiple second-half deficits.
The Nets had the lead late in overtime
Brooklyn moved ahead 124-123 and appeared to be seconds away from a road win.
Boston’s final inbound play gave Tatum just enough room to create the winning shot.
Paul George provided important support
George finished with 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
His all-around contribution helped Boston stabilize the offense when Brooklyn focused defensive attention on Tatum.
Michael Porter Jr. led the Nets
Porter scored 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for Brooklyn.
Julius Randle added 24 points and nine rebounds as the Nets repeatedly punished Boston inside and in transition.
Boston’s three-point shooting changed after halftime
The Celtics made only two of 16 attempts from deep in the first half.
They responded by hitting eight three-pointers in the third quarter, turning a halftime deficit into an 86-82 lead.
The lead changed hands repeatedly
Boston built an eight-point advantage early in the fourth quarter, but Brooklyn answered with a 9-0 run.
The final minutes became a sequence of free throws, drives and late threes before Brown forced overtime.
Tatum’s foul pressure was decisive
Reaching the line 22 times reflected how aggressively Tatum attacked mismatches.
That pressure also forced Brooklyn to defend more cautiously late in possessions.
Boston showed resilience
The Celtics did not play a clean game, especially from the perimeter early, but they found different ways to score.
Winning a high-variance game like this can be valuable during a long regular season.
Brooklyn can take positives despite the loss
The Nets generated balanced offense and showed composure by forcing overtime in the final second.
Their challenge is converting strong performances into wins when late-game execution becomes decisive.
A highlight-reel finish
Tatum’s final jumper will be remembered as the defining moment, but the game was competitive for nearly every minute.
Boston’s comeback shooting, Brooklyn’s late response and the overtime finish turned an ordinary regular-season matchup into one of the night’s standout games.
Sources
- Reuters/Field Level Media, Oct. 28, 2026
- NBA game statistics
Boston’s rotation will matter over the season
One dramatic win cannot hide the need to manage minutes and maintain depth across an 82-game schedule. Tatum and George carried a heavy creation burden in this matchup, and Boston will need consistent contributions from its secondary scorers to avoid overloading stars.
The early-season result nevertheless gives the Celtics confidence that they can survive a poor shooting half and still execute under pressure. Those habits often become valuable when games tighten later in the year.
The Atlantic Division race adds context
Boston enters the season with championship expectations, making close wins valuable even before standings pressure becomes intense. Brooklyn, meanwhile, is trying to establish a consistent identity around a reshaped roster. Games like this can reveal which lineups coaches trust in the final possessions.
Tatum’s ability to deliver after Brown had forced overtime for Brooklyn also showed the difference a proven late-game scorer can make. The result will count as only one win, but the finish gives Boston a memorable early-season reference point.
Boston will also take encouragement from the fact that the win came despite an uneven shooting night. Teams that can manufacture points at the free-throw line and execute late possessions are less dependent on three-point variance. Brooklyn’s challenge will be turning competitive performances into results by closing the final defensive possession more cleanly.
