CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum has spent nearly a year trying to return to top speed after rupturing his Achilles during last season’s playoffs. He believes slowing down Sunday led to his best game since returning from the injury.
“I felt good tonight,” Tatum said. “I just felt like I was slowing down a lot – in a good way. Like, I was just reading the game. I didn’t feel sped up tonight. I just felt more in rhythm. And I made some shots.”
Before checking out late in the fourth quarter with the Celtics well on their way to a 114-99 victory over the Hornets, Tatum notched 32 points, eight assists and five rebounds, reaching the 30-point mark for the first time since making his season debut on March 6. His previous season high was 27 points. As Tatum rediscovers his efficiency, Sunday’s game marked the 112th time in his career he’s scored at least 30 points while shooting at least 50 percent, inching him closer to Paul Pierce (116) for the second-most such games in Celtics history. Larry Bird (192) holds the team’s regular-season record.
Tatum considered it his most complete game of the season. Payton Pritchard called the performance a “very encouraging” sign for the Celtics.
“We know if we want to win a championship, we need him at a high level,” Pritchard said. “So, it’s definitely encouraging, but he’s getting better and better each game and looking more and more like himself.”
The performance marked a key step in Tatum’s recovery, given the challenges high-profile players like him often face trying to regain old form. Kevin Durant reached the 30-point threshold in his fourth game back from his Achilles recovery, which coincided with his debut season with the Brooklyn Nets. Kobe Bryant did so in his eighth outing and second season following his rupture. Dominique Wilkins, known as the standard-bearer for Achilles recoveries after his nine-month rehab, poured in 30 points during his first game back on Nov. 6, 1992.
With Jaylen Brown (left Achilles tendinitis) and Derrick White (right knee contusion) sidelined, Tatum started the game with an aggressive mindset. He drove past Brandon Miller for a dunk to open the Celtics’ scoring and added a post-up jumper over LaMelo Ball moments later. Later in the first quarter, Tatum sliced past Ryan Kalkbrenner for another basket at the rim before pulling up from near the Hornets logo for a 3-pointer. Tatum checked out of the game for the first time with nine points over 6:44.
Tatum’s hot hand did not disappear during his first stint on the bench. Shortly after reentering the game at the start of the second quarter, he pump faked to lift Miles Bridges off his feet before draining another pull-up 3-pointer. After the basket, Tatum shook his head as if to let it be known the Hornets couldn’t stop him. One minute later, he drew a three-shot foul when Ball was too eager to defend him beyond the arc.
“The reason I was making (shots was) I didn’t feel like I was sped up or off balance that much,” Tatum said. “I still was kind of tired so that’s something I’m still working through, but I just liked the decisiveness in my movements, exploding when I needed to, reacting. Obviously it helps when you hit shots. And I can say I felt better than I did the last game. Hopefully I feel better than I did today the next time I play. I’m still a work in progress.”
When Tatum subbed out again with 7:06 left in the second quarter, a group of Celtics fans in Charlotte showered him with a loud ovation. He had already scored 16 of his 20 first-half points. Boston took control during the quarter to open a 63-49 halftime lead.
Tatum scored seven more points during the third quarter. Midway through that period, he delivered a pair of difficult baskets in short succession while splashing home a short jumper over Bridges then spinning into a fadeaway over Kon Knueppel. Tatum shook his head again after the latter score.
After missing his first four shots of the fourth quarter, Tatum muscled through Ball for a short jumper to give the Celtics a 103-90 lead midway through the period. Tatum then extended his team’s advantage to 16 points with a 3-pointer on the next Boston possession. He again showed plenty of emotion after the basket.
“It was just (that) they went on a run, cut it to nine,” Tatum said. “The game was just super competitive at that point. As a competitor in the moment, we called a time out, and we got some stops and made some plays to kind of seal the game.”
Tatum did not return to the game after the ensuing timeout. Over 31 minutes played, he shot 12 of 23 from the field, including five of 10 on 3-point attempts. He entered Sunday shooting a career-low 30.3 percent from deep on 8.9 attempts per game.
“He was just very efficient in his movements, got to his spots,” Pritchard said. “He looked like JT tonight. So, he was a killer.”
Pritchard also delivered for the Celtics with 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting. Neemias Queta (17 points) and Baylor Scheierman (14 points) joined Tatum and Pritchard in double figures.
The Celtics’ win clinched a playoff berth. It also gave them at least 50 victories for the fifth straight season. This time, the accomplishment might have meant a little bit more after Tatum’s injury and an offseason overhaul left critics questioning how much success Boston would have.
“It’s huge,” Tatum said. “Obviously, playing for the Celtics, the main goal is winning the championship, but you don’t take it for granted. It’s my ninth (consecutive) year going to the playoffs. Especially now more than ever, basketball was taken away from me, so you never want to take a season, a game, or making the playoffs for granted. It’s hard to win in this league. The league is full of talented players and teams. And it just goes to show the mindset of this organization from the top down. We approach every single day with a winning mentality and the culture that we’ve set. Regardless of who’s in, who’s out, who we have on the roster. And I think the product on the floor, it shows that it’s something to be proud of. The adversity that we’ve had to endure over the last 12 months and be the second seed in the East and clinching another playoff berth has meant something.”
Late in the first half, Tatum became the youngest Celtics player ever to record 14,000 points and the 15th-youngest player in league history to reach that milestone. Tatum turned 28 on March 3.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to be on some really good teams, be surrounded by some really good players and coaches on this staff that have empowered me and helped me become the player I am today,” Tatum said. “I take a lot of pride in trying to perfect my craft. Obviously over the last 10 1/2 months, I had to work my ass off just to get back to be able to run up and down the floor. So, it’s something special, given what I’ve had to go through these last 10 ½ months, that I was able to reach that and keep on climbing.”