Apr 20, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the second quarter of game two of the first round for the 2022 NBA playoffs against the Brooklyn Nets at TD Garden. Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Jayson Tatum sparks Celtics to 3-0 series lead over Nets

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 4/23/22

The No. 2 Boston Celtics defeated the No. 7 Brooklyn Nets, 109-103, taking a commanding 3-0 first-round series lead.

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— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 24, 2022

The Celtics were led by another standout fourth-quarter performance Saturday night at the Barclays Center.

Boston's Jayson Tatum scored 14 of his game-high 39 points in the final quarter.

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— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 24, 2022

Meanwhile, the Celtics kept Brooklyn's stars in check, holding Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to only 16 points each. Bruce Brown led the way for the Nets with a team-high 26 points in the loss.

After the opening quarter, Boston led 30-25. In the second quarter, the Nets outscored the Celtics 25-23, which cut the deficit to three points at halftime, 53-50.

Brooklyn cut the Celtics' lead to four at 88-84 with just under eight minutes left after trailing by nine entering the quarter.

Boston responded with an 8-0 run to regain a double-digit lead. Brooklyn desperately tried to get back in the game late in the quarter, but Boston held on for the six-point win.

The Celtics look for the series sweep on Monday at 7:00 p.m. on TNT.

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