A first-round matchup for the ages

Apr 17, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Brooklyn Nets ahead Kevin Durant (7) seems to cross towards Boston Celtics ahead Jayson Tatum (0) within the first quarter throughout recreation one of many first spherical for the 2022 NBA playoffs at TD Backyard, Jayson Tatum vs. Kevin Durant: A primary-round matchup for athe ages. Obligatory Credit score: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports activities

After Jayson Tatum delivered the Boston Celtics an unbelievable recreation one win, this sequence towards the Brooklyn Nets seems destined to be a thriller.

The heavyweight battle belies a first-round matchup, and who is aware of, possibly that reality implies that within the washup, it’s a sequence that’ll largely get forgotten in NBA historical past.

Jayson Tatum vs. Kevin Durant: A primary-round matchup for the ages

However for now, NBA followers get to soak in all of the drama of a sequence full of far larger storylines than simply the video games themselves. A kind of storylines is the important thing, titanic battle between one of the best gamers on the ground.

The Boston Celtics-Brooklyn Nets sequence may go down as the most effective first-round matchups of all time, led by a head-to-head battle between two of the league’s premier forwards.

In a well-rounded, various league that gives alternative for guards, forwards, or massive males to be a group’s constructing block, it’s now uncommon for the 2 greatest gamers to go head-to-head on each ends of the ground.

Take into consideration one of the best participant for every group within the different seven sequence. The Tatum-Durant battle is uniquely particular in that they play the identical place amongst different placing similarities. This can be a recreation inside a recreation, one that can doubtless decide the results of the sequence.

In credit score to each gamers, neither took a backward step in recreation one. Durant guarded Tatum for 9 minutes and 9 seconds, over a minute longer than another defensive matchup. That was adopted by Tatum guarding Durant on the opposite finish, which he did extremely properly for eight minutes and 6 seconds.

Durant shot simply 2-for-6 for 4 factors in these little over eight minutes. He additionally dedicated 4 turnovers as Tatum’s stifling protection included a block on Durant’s normally unguardable jumpshot.

Tatum scored 9 factors on 4-for-9 capturing, had one help, and one turnover when guarded by Durant. The protection of each gamers was largely on high, that was till Durant’s abandoned him on the most important second.

Within the lasting, defining second of the sport, Tatum slipped by an unknowing Durant who appeared glued to the ground just like the protestor on the Clippers-Timberwolves Play-In recreation. Tatum accepted a cross from Marcus Sensible, spun previous the undersized Kyrie Irving, then delivered the game-winning layup.

Tatum received that play, he received the matchup, and his group received the sport. Now we await Durant’s response, with the two-time Finals MVP undoubtedly motivated after an uncharacteristically below-average efficiency.