Jayson Tatum shifted Ziaire Williams with a nasty in-n-out dribble, pushed the ball through help, then threw an alley-oop that appeared slightly off target, until Luke Kornet reached skyward with his left hand to thunder the ball down through the hoop.
That play ended the first half between the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics on Saturday evening, the first game of a back-to-back for Brooklyn, a game that felt like the beginning of the end to their season.
Saturday began with an injury report that listed Nic Claxton out simply to rest, picked up with newsthat Cam Thomas’ season was over due to his balky left hamstring, and soon enough the Celtics had a 21-point lead over Brooklyn in a very green Barclays Center.