A brilliant final sequence exemplified how every Celtic has embraced – and mastered – their role

Jayson Tatum celebrates his buzzer-beater in Game 1 against the Nets.The final sequence of the Celtics’ thrilling 115-114 Game 1 win over the Nets on Sunday was a basketball fan’s utopia.

There were no timeouts. No replays. No free throws. No off-balance, contested 3’s. No selfish plays. Instead, defensive togetherness, extra passes and killer instincts reigned supreme.

What the Celtics did in the final 30 seconds – getting a crucial stop and connecting beautifully to set up a Jayson Tatum buzzer-beating layup – was nothing short of brilliant. It was also a microcosm of how well this team has meshed together, as every player embraced their role and did their part. The last sequence showed how…