NBA: Jayson Tatum, Pritchard help Celtics hold off Nets in OT

Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum (0) drives past Brooklyn Nets’ Keon Johnson during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

BOSTON — Jayson Tatum had 33 points and nine rebounds, Payton Pritchard scored six points in overtime and the Boston Celtics beat the Brooklyn Nets 108-104 on Friday night in the NBA.

Pritchard finished with 20 points. Jrue Holiday added 17 points and five assists, and Derrick White scored 14 and had six assists for the Celtics (8-2).

Cam Thomas reached 30 points for the fourth time this season, finishing with 31 to lead the Nets (4-5). Dennis Schroder added 20 points.

READ: NBA: Celtics host Nets, out to rebound from first home loss

Cameron Johnson was fouled by Tatum after missing a wide open 3-point attempt in the closing seconds of regulation but grabbed his own miss. He calmly sank two free throws, tying it at 94 with 7.6 seconds to play.

Tatum front-rimmed a 3 as time expired, sending it to OT.

Boston guard Jaylen Brown missed his fourth straight game with a strained left hip flexor, center Luke Kornet was also out because of right hamstring tightness.

Takeaways

Nets: Coach Jordi Fernandez talked before the game that it was going to be “exciting because they like to run, too,” so they slowed Boston by picking up defensively deep in the backcourt most of the game.

Celtics: Coming off their first home loss of the season Wednesday night against Golden State, the Celtics saw another team that limited the 3-point line and delated their offensive sets. The fast break was Boston’s remedy, as the Celtics outscored the Nets 20-10 in transition.

READ: NBA: Celtics fans boo Steve Kerr over Tatum’s Olympic playing time

Key moment

Leading 105-102, Boston forced the Nets into a shot-clock violation before Pritchard was fouled on the other end and hit two free throws.

Key stat

The Celtics were held below its league-leading average of 19 3-pointers made per game. They ended up shooting 14 for 53 from deep, but the Nets only made 10 3s.

Up next

The Nets are at the Cavaliers on Saturday night, and Boston is at Milwaukee on Sunday.