Jayson Tatum's overtime buzzer-beater lifts Celtics past Nets 125-124 after Mikel Brown Jr.'s tying 3

Jayson Tatum buried a 17-foot jumper as time expired in overtime to finish a 40-point night, and the Boston Celtics beat the Brooklyn Nets 125-124 on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at TD Garden.

The game only reached overtime because of Nets rookie Mikel Brown Jr., who hit a tying 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation. In overtime, though, Brown missed a layup with 2.3 seconds left, and that gave Boston one last chance, the Associated Press reported.

Boston has now won three straight. Brooklyn is 0-4.

Nets vs. Celtics: score by quarter

The game had 10 lead changes and 15 ties, per the NBA.com box score, and neither team led by more than eight points, according to the AP.

Key player stats

Stats from the AP and NBC Sports Boston.

NBC Sports Boston said Tatum’s 22 free-throw attempts set a career high.

The wild final minutes of regulation

Brooklyn led 109-104 after a Randle basket with 2:57 left, the AP said, before Boston rallied. With 33.7 seconds to go, Derrick White slipped behind the defense, and Tatum found him for a dunk. White was fouled and made the free throw for a 114-111 lead.

Brooklyn got another chance when Celtics center Mitchell Robinson missed two free throws with 3 seconds left. The AP noted that Robinson, a career 50.7% free-throw shooter, went 1 of 4 at the line and is 2 of 8 this season. NBC Sports Boston added that a poorly timed foul by Neemias Queta also helped set Brooklyn up.

Brown then hit the tying 3. The AP put the time remaining at 0.2 seconds; NBC Sports Boston’s live blog described it as about two seconds.

Overtime: a reversed call and a buzzer-beater

In overtime, White appeared to draw a foul that would have sent him to the line with a chance to tie or win. But the Nets challenged the call and it was overturned, keeping Boston down by one, according to NBC Sports Boston.

After Brown’s missed layup, White inbounded the ball to Tatum with 2.3 seconds left. Tatum pulled up from the free-throw line and hit the game-winner as time expired.

Who is Mikel Brown Jr.?

Brown is a Nets rookie and was the No. 6 pick in this year’s NBA draft out of Louisville, the AP noted. He finished with 17 points and gave Brooklyn its best chance at a first win, only to miss the layup that would have kept the Nets ahead.

What Tatum and the Celtics said

Tatum missed almost all of last season while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, NBC Sports Boston noted. Asked about his mindset this season, he said he learned a lot about himself while injured. “When something is taken away from you, innately, you just appreciate it more,” he said.

He also praised White, who heard MVP chants after his and-one dunk. “Favorite teammate, one of my favorite people,” Tatum said.

Coach Joe Mazzulla said the team would “handle this like a loss tomorrow and get better,” according to NBC Sports Boston. Paul George, 36, said he feels “great” health-wise.

Boston made only 2 of 16 3-pointers in the first half and went 11 of 41 for the game, but stayed close by getting to the line.

What’s next

• Celtics: Host the Chicago Bulls on Friday night in an NBA Cup group-stage game.
• Nets: Host the Detroit Pistons on Friday night, still looking for their first win.

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