Caris LeVert goes off as Boston falls apart in 129-120 overtime loss

The Boston Celtics may have lost more than just a game to the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night. The Nets staged a furious rally behind Caris LeVert to beat the Celtics in overtime 129-120.

LeVert scored 51 points for Brooklyn, including 37 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. LeVert scored 26 points in the fourth quarter, including three free throws to tie the game with 0.2 seconds to play. LeVert was fouled by Marcus Smart while shooting a three-pointer with the Nets trailing by three.

LeVert then scored all 11 of Brooklyn’s points in overtime as Boston scored just two points.

The Celtics finished the game without any of their top-five players on the floor. Jayson Tatum missed the game due to illness. Late in the first half, Daniel Theis feel into Gordon Hayward’s right knee. Hayward stayed in to finish the half, but did not play in the second half. The Celtics ruled Hayward out for the night with a right knee contusion.

In the fourth quarter, Jaylen Brown seemingly injured his right hamstring in the fourth quarter. He exited the game late in the fourth and did not return.

Kemba Walker made his return to the lineup for Boston after a five-game absence. He scored 21 points and made a couple of big three-pointers late in the fourth quarter. But Walker was on a minutes’ restriction of 20-25 minutes and did not play in overtime, as he was already over 23 minutes of playing time.

Marcus Smart became the fifth Celtic to head to the sideline as he fouled out early in overtime. Smart scored 14 points and handed out 10 assists to go along with six rebounds, two steals and two blocks. But it was his foul on LeVert that allowed the Nets wing to tie the game.

As LeVert went off, Boston blew a 21-point lead. The Celtics were also up by 10 points with just over four minutes to play. LeVert proved to be too much to handle however, as he shot 17-of-26 from the field and 12-of-18 at the line for his 51 points.

Now eyes will turn to the injury report for Boston, as the Celtics play a back-to-back on Wednesday night in Cleveland. Tatum is expected to return, and updates on Brown and Hayward will be available in advance of the game. Walker is expected to play as well, but with the minutes’ restriction still in place.