Boston vs Brooklyn 125-124: Tatum's 40 wins it in OT

Tatum went 18/22 from the line without a turnover as the Celtics held off a late Brooklyn push to edge the winless Nets 125-124.

How Jayson Tatum's 40 points beat Brooklyn

Jayson Tatum decided this game, scoring 40 points in 42 minutes as Boston edged Brooklyn 125-124 in overtime. He added 8 assists and 5 rebounds without a single turnover.

The extra period was as tight as everything before it. Boston took it 8-7, and a final margin of 1 point meant every one of Tatum's free throws carried weight.

His PIR of 37 was the highest on the floor. Michael Porter Jr. came closest for Brooklyn with 29, while Paul George was next for Boston on 22.

Boston Celtics against Brooklyn Nets, in the official video.

How Tatum built his 40: free throws, shot selection and no turnovers

Tatum built his 40 mainly at the free-throw line, where he went 18/22. He added 8/13 inside the arc and 2/7 from three.

That pressure on the rim mattered on a night when Boston's perimeter shooting misfired. George went 1/6 from three and Derrick White, ranked 27th in the league by TeamKeys Rating last season, went 1/7.

Tatum also created for others, with 8 assists and 0 turnovers across his 42 minutes. George added 20 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists, and Jordan Walsh hit 3/5 from three for 15.

Celtics vs Nets quarter by quarter: how the game reached overtime

Brooklyn started fast and finished strongly, which is why a game Boston seized in the third quarter still needed overtime. The Nets won the first quarter 31-26 and the second finished level at 30-30.

Boston's 30-21 third quarter looked to have turned the game. Brooklyn answered with a 35-31 fourth, driven by Michael Porter Jr., who finished with 27 points, 12 rebounds and 6/12 from three.

Julius Randle, ranked 42nd in the league by TeamKeys Rating last season, scored 24 in 44 minutes. His 0/7 from three and 5 turnovers, though, left room for Tatum to settle it. Moe Wagner added 15 off the bench.

Best players of the game
Player	Points	PIR
Jayson Tatum (Boston)	40	37
Michael Porter Jr. (Brooklyn)	27	29
Paul George (Boston)	20	22
Moe Wagner (Brooklyn)	15	19
Jordan Walsh (Boston)	15	17
Julius Randle (Brooklyn)	24	14

Source: TeamKeys, NBA 2026-10-27. PIR: performance index rating.

Boston and Brooklyn in the NBA standings after round 4

The win lifts Boston to 3-1 and 7th of 30, with three straight wins since an opening defeat. Brooklyn drop to 0-4 and sit 28th.

Both sides return on 30 October. Boston face the Chicago Bulls, while Brooklyn meet the Detroit Pistons, still chasing a first win of the season.

For the Nets, taking a 3-1 side to overtime shows they can compete for long spells. Closing games is the problem, and Tatum's night at the line showed exactly what that costs.

Shooting lines are shown as made/attempted. TeamKeys Ratings quoted are from the 2025/2026 season.

Questions people ask

Who was the top scorer in Celtics vs Nets?

Jayson Tatum led all scorers with 40 points in Boston's 125-124 overtime win over Brooklyn. He played 42 minutes, shot 18/22 from the free-throw line and added 8 assists and 5 rebounds. Michael Porter Jr. top-scored for the Nets with 27 points.

How did Brooklyn force overtime against Boston?

Brooklyn won the fourth quarter 35-31 after losing the third 30-21. Michael Porter Jr. finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds, hitting 6/12 from three, while Julius Randle added 24. Boston then edged the extra period 8-7 to win 125-124.

When do Boston and Brooklyn play next?

Both teams are back in action on 30 October 2026. Boston, now 3-1 and 7th of 30 in the NBA, face the Chicago Bulls. Brooklyn, 0-4 and 28th, meet the Detroit Pistons as they look for a first win of the season.

Jayson Tatum's 40 points carry Boston past Brooklyn in overtime