3 takeaways: Jayson Tatum explodes for 50 points, Nets drop Game 3

In an attempt to take a commanding 3-0 lead over the Boston Celtics on Friday night, the Brooklyn Nets had to show up and show out at TD Garden. They did just that in the opening minutes of the game, opening the game with a 19-4 run before Brad Stevens was forced to call time out. After the time out, the Celtics woke up from their slumber and matched the Nets’ energy offensively. To help their case, they were dominate on the offensive boards, securing nine of them before the half.

James Harden sparked Brooklyn’s early run, ending his half with 17 points. Jayson Tatum (21 PTS, 8-15 FG) proved difficult to stop, though, and had the team-high for the Celtics at the break.

Tatum picked up right where he left off in the second half. Marcus Smart was also phenomenal as he began heating up from deep. Boston outscored Brooklyn 35-27 in the third quarter to go into the fourth period up 12.

To start the fourth, James Harden came out giving his squad life as he drained three after three after three. He helped to cut the deficit as Brooklyn continued to string together stops. When it was time for Tatum to check back into the game, the Nets defense switched their attention to him. Yet, it still wasn’t enough.

The All-Star erupted for 50 points to close out the win despite Harden scoring 15 points in the final period to lead the Nets. Boston has now made this a series, but they still trail 2-1.

A disappointed Steve Nash said after the game “rhey took the momentum — They started to feel a little confidence for the first time in these three games.”

James Harden's big scoring night

If it wasn't already obvious, this was James Harden's best scoring performance in the playoffs. In the first two games of the series he combined for 41 points. In Game 3, the Nets guard exploded for 41 points on 11-for-18 shooting from the field and 7-for 12 shooting from deep. It was much needed to keep his team in the game. Brooklyn was really struggling to score the ball. No player outside of the big three even scored in double-digits.

Defensive rebounding was a problem

Brooklyn couldn't keep the Celtics off the offensive glass all game. They grabbed 13 offensive rebounds and Tristan Thompson was the man responsible for more than half of them. We all knew size was going to be a problem for the Nets heading into the playoffs and now it's starting to show. Thompson was able to propel his team to victory by giving them extra possessions of misses.

Kyrie Irving's return

Uncle Drew's return to Boston with fans did not go the way he would have liked. However, it went the way any Celtics fan would have hoped for. Kyrie Irving scored 16 points on 6-for-17 shooting. Although these are stats that some players would be satisfied with, what's glaring about this is the fact that he played 40 minutes while also missing shots that he knows he could make both at the rim and from three. In fact, it wasn't even until the fourth quarter when Irving began picking up his scoring numbers. It will be interesting to see how he responds back from this as he heads back to his former team's arena for Game 4.

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