NBA play-offs: Jayson Tatum gives Boston Celtics win as Kyrie Irving gesture sparks controversy

The Boston Celtics won their opening NBA play-off game 115-114 over the Brooklyn Nets thanks to a last-second goal by Jayson Tatum.

The Eastern Conference second seeds held off a fourth-quarter comeback by the Nets.

The Celtics lead the best-of-seven series.

During the third quarter, Irving made a gesture to the Boston crowd.

The Celtics fans booed Irving throughout the game after he left the team.

Irving defended his response to the Celtic fans, saying he was used to all these antics.

It is the same energy they have for me and I will have the same energy for them.

The fans aren't playing and it's not about the fans.

The Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns all won their first games.

One of three nominees for this season's NBA Most Valuable Player award, Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to a 93-86 victory over the Chicago Bulls.

The Suns, who are the Western Conference top seeds, defeated the New Orleans Pelicans while the Heat, who are the Eastern Conference top seeds, dominated the Atlanta Hawks.

In Boston, the hosts trailed the Nets 114-111 with 45.9 seconds left after a three-pointer by Irving.

Jaylen Brown made a layup to cut the lead and after Kevin Durant missed a three-pointer, Marcus Smart passed to Tatum for the match-winning score.

When he took that dribble, we just kind of made eye contact and he made a great pass and I just had to make a layup.

Foul trouble kept Antetokounmpo out of the game for much of the fourth quarter, but he still had 27 points and 16 rebound to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a victory.

The Bulls had a centre with 24 points and 17 Rebounds.

Duncan Robinson scored a career play-off high of 27 points as his side put in a strong defensive display.

Robinson hit eight out of nine three-pointers, Jimmy Butler and PJ Tucker both scored 21 points, and Trae Young struggled as the Hawks and star guard struggled.

The Suns, who finished the regular season with the best record in the league, led from start to finish against the Pelicans, as veteran point guard Chris Paul scored 19 of his 30 points in the second half.