Jayson Tatum hits buzzer-beater to lift Boston Celtics over Brooklyn Nets in Game 1

By Matias Grez, CNN

Updated 1119 GMT (1919 HKT) April 18, 2022

Jayson Tatum celebrates the game-winning basket against the Brooklyn Nets.

(CNN)Jayson Tatum hit a spinning buzzing-beating layup to clinch Game 1 of the Boston Celtics' first round playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.

In what became an instant NBA playoff classic, these two Eastern Conference heavyweights — both of who feel they are legitimate title contenders — slugged it out down the stretch as the momentum swung back and forth.Boston looked to have wrapped the game up after taking a 15-point lead in the third quarter, but led by a rampaging Kyrie Irving in his former home arena, the Nets fought all the way back to take a five-point lead in the closing stages.But a huge three-pointer from Jaylen Brown and a driving layup from Marcus Smart following a Nets turnover brought the Celtics level with just over three minutes remaining.However, after Irving hit a step back triple to sap the energy inside TD Garden and put the Nets up by three with 45 seconds left, it looked as though the Celtics were staring at a 0-1 series deficit.Read MoreBut Boston had also come up with a number of big plays on the defensive end during the game, with Tatum blocking a Durant pull-up jumper and Brown chasing Bruce Brown down to block his layup at the end of the third quarter.They did so again after Jaylen Brown scored a quick two to cut the deficit, as Marcus Smart — a Defensive Player of the Year candidate — locked up Irving and Tatum's contest forced Durant's three-pointer to clang off the backboard.READ: Questionable trades, injuries and a falling star — what went wrong with the LA Lakers?Jayson Tatum was the hero in Game 1 against Brooklyn.Chaos then ensued as