UNDATED (AP) — The Boston Celtics opened their NBA playoff schedule with a buzzer-beater, while the Miami Heat enjoyed an old-fashioned blowout.
Jayson Tatum hit a layup at the buzzer to give the Celtics a 115-114 win over the Nets. Tatum scored 16 of his 31 points in the second half, the last coming on a feed from Marcus Smart.
Boston had four players with at least 20 points. Jaylen Brown delivered 23 points and Al Horford added 20 with 15 rebounds. Smart also had 20 points for the Celtics, who host Game 2 on Tuesday.
The Nets had outscored the Celtics 29-17 in the fourth quarter before Tatum’s game-winning bucket. Kyrie Irving poured in a game-high 39 points and Kevin Durant had 23 for Brooklyn.
Duncan Robinson was three-mendous as the Heat opened their NBA playoff schedule with a 115-91 pounding of the Hawks.
Robinson came off the bench to set a team record for 3-pointers, going 8-for-9 from downtown and 9 of 10 overall. He led all scorers with 27 points, teammate Jimmy Butler finished with 21 and P.J. Tucker had 16.
Meanwhile, Hawks guard Trae Young was ice cold as he missed 11 of his 12 attempts and finished with just eight points. Danilo Gallinari had a team-high 17 points for Atlanta.
Game 2 is Tuesday in Miami.
The top overall seed won after blowing most of a big lead.
Chris Paul pumped in 19 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter to secure the Suns’ win over the Pelicans, 110-99.
Paul got hot after New Orleans cut a 23-point deficit to 79-71 by the end of the third quarter. He shot 12 for 16 from the field, including 4 of 6 on 3-pointers.
Devin Booker had 25 points for Phoenix, which held New Orleans to 34 points and 22% shooting in the first half.
CJ McCollum had 25 points for the Pelicans, who stay in Phoenix for game 2 on Tuesday.
In Milwaukee, the Bucks coughed up a 16-point lead before going on an 8-0 run to beat the Bulls, 93-86.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 27 points and 16 rebounds to help Milwaukee improve to 5-0 versus Chicago this season. Jrue Holiday sank a go-ahead 3-pointer with 5:03, part of the 8-0 that put the Bucks ahead, 85-78. Holiday finished with 15 points and Brook Lopez had 18.
Nikola Vucevic had 24 points and 17 rebounds for the Bulls, who scored 13 straight late in the third quarter to take the lead.
Game 2 is Wednesday in Milwaukee.
