Everything was played in the last 36 seconds at TD Garden: the Nets, leading 114-113, could not score after their possession, Kevin Durant missing his attempt.

With twelve seconds to play, the C's rushed in transition and Marcus Smart (20 pts, 7 rebounds, 6 assists), avoiding a double against, passed the ball to Tatum (31 pts, 8 assists), for a double step winner just before the siren.

This is how the Celtics got out of a very bad situation, after a meeting they thought they had mastered by leading by 14 units in the 3rd quarter, before Irving pulled out all the stops. In the last, he scored 18 of his 39 points, including four baskets behind the arc, middle finger as a bonus, which silenced Boston fans, very hostile since his failed stint (2017-2019).

"We're talking about a guy who had a winning shot in the final (in 2016 with Cleveland against Golden State), who was at the Olympics... I don't know if there will be an environment that will make him nervous" , said coach Steve Nash.

Decisive Lopez

During this very intense match, the C's were also able to count on Jaylen Brown (23 pts) and Al Horford (20 pts, 15 rebounds) to go to the coal.

On the Brooklyn side, Kevin Durant was not very skilful (23 pts, at 9/24).

The defending champion Milwaukee fought to beat (93-86) Chicago and, for once, it was not Giannis Antetokounmpo (27 pts, 16 rebounds) who made the difference, but the pivot Brook Lopez, who scored 7 of his 18 points in the money-time.

Brook Lopez (Milwaukee Bucks) attempts a fanc pitch against the Chicago Bulls during Game 1 of the 1st Round of the NBA Playoffs on Saturday April 17, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Stacy Revere GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

"We kept our cool and our toughness made the difference," the Greek paid tribute to him.

The Bucks were up to 16 units ahead in the first period, before the Bulls fought back in the wake of Nikola Vucevic (24 pts, 17 rebounds) and even passed (69-64) in the 3rd.

But their excessive awkwardness (32.3%), like DeMar DeRozan (18 pts, at 6/25), prevented them from achieving a big entry blow.

Earlier, 2020 finalist Miami gave the Hawks a basketball lesson (115-91).

Constant combativeness, tough defense, versatility in attack, the Heat were true to themselves, stifling Trae Young, unable to weigh in the match.

Young muffled

The leader only scored one basket out of 12 attempted (8 pts, his lowest total this season), less than the number of blows taken: a hand in the face and a dive on an ankle from Kyle Lowry (10 pts, 9 assists), as well as a neck grab by Jimmy Butler (21 pts) after a collision that earned them a technical foul each.

"We wanted to make things very hard for him physically, to challenge him with every shot. He can score a lot of points and we didn't want that," Butler summed up.

The message passed, Miami was able to unfold its game and Duncan Robinson play the snipers (28 pts) with an almost perfect 8/9 from long distance.

Duncan Robinson (Miami Heat) scores a three-pointer against the Atlanta Hawks during Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs 1st Round at the FTX Arena in Miami, Florida on April 17, 2022. Michael Reaves GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA /AFP

Finally, in the West, Phoenix, the best team in the regular season, enforced logic against New Orleans (110-99).

The Suns, initially guided by Devin Booker (25 pts, 8 assists), counted up to 23 lengths in advance, then they fell asleep, leaving the Pelicans of CJ McCollum (25 pts) and Jonas Valanciunas ( 18 pts, 25 rebounds!) back to six units.

So the stainless Chris Paul (30 pts, 10 assists) came out of his box and stopped the joke, chaining three award-winning baskets in a row, to ultimately score 19 points of the Suns' 31 points in the 4th quarter.

In a word: "clutch".

© 2022 AFP