Boston sliced its deficit to nine three times in the opening 6 minutes of the final quarter, but after the last one Williams had a pair of baskets during a game-sealing 8-0 run that had many in the crowd heading for the exits.

WSJ: Williams carries Nets to 101-93 win over Celtics

Boston sliced its deficit to nine three times in the opening 6 minutes of the final quarter, but after the last time Williams had a pair of baskets during a game-sealing 8-0 run that had many in the crowd heading for the exits.

WSJ: Williams carries Nets to 101-93 win over Celtics

The eighth seed eventually saw off his fellow Spaniard 5-7 6-7 (8-10) 6-3 6-3 7-6 (7-4), sealing victory with a spectacular winner on the run after four hours and 23 minutes.

BBC: Rafael Nadal beats Feliciano Lopez at US Open