BOSTON — As the Celtics have completely transformed their season over the past several weeks, there was one lingering doubt hanging over them: the lack of elite competition along the way.
That wasn’t the case Sunday afternoon, as the Brooklyn Nets rolled into TD Garden for this matinee affair featuring Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving playing together for just the fourth time this season.
But while Durant was his typically great self, Jayson Tatum was even better.
The 24-year-old superstar poured in 54 points — his fourth 50-point regular-season game of his career, tying Larry Bird for the most in Celtics franchise history — to outduel Durant and Irving and lead Boston to a 126-120 victory here Sunday, giving the Celtics their 14th win in their past 16 games and continuing their rapid ascent into an Eastern Conference contender.
“As a competitor night…
