In what many call an NBA Finals preview, Jayson Tatum led the Boston Celtics to a 111-101 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. He scored 40 points along with 12 rebounds and 8 assists. He led the Celtics in all three categories and was instrumental in defeating their Los Angeles rival.
Tatum’s performance was especially impressive because, in a game against Luka Doncic and LeBron James, Tatum looked like the best player on the court. He was dominant on both ends of the floor and helped the Celtics improve to a 46-18 record, winning their fourth game in a row.
Jayson Tatum’s Performance
Tatum and the Celtics got off to a slow start. The Lakers took an early lead 7-0, forcing Boston to battle back. Tatum was up for the challenge, knocking down multiple three-pointers in the first quarter. He and Jaylen Brown helped get the Celtics back into the game. By the end of the first quarter, the game was tied 33-33 after Tatum made a step-back three. The second quarter was more of the same. Both teams went back and forth, trading baskets and the lead. But again, JT made big plays, hitting another three and getting a dunk to give Boston a four-point halftime lead.
In the third quarter, Tatum and the Celtics blew the game open. They went on a 15-0 run and only surrendered 13 points in the quarter. It was an excellent display of team defense. Brown and Tatum are very capable defenders, but other players like Al Horford were stepping up as well. The Lakers targeted Horford on switches, but the veteran held his own against Doncic and James. Meanwhile, Tatum and Brown were carrying the load on offense, helping the Celtics build an 87-67 lead at the end of the third quarter.
The Lakers made the game close in the fourth quarter after Doncic heated up and they knocked down a few three-pointers. They brought the deficit as low as four points, but Brown answered with a three. Then, Tatum followed with his sixth three-pointer of the night, putting the Celtics up by ten with two and a half minutes left. This shot was the dagger and sealed the 111-101 win.
Tatum and Brown’s Impact
Tatum finished with 40 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists. He shot 12-of-28 from the field and 6-of-16 from three. It was his fourth 40-point game of the season and three of them have come in the last month against the Knicks and Cavaliers. He has hit a new gear over recent weeks, and it has paid dividends for the Celtics. Against the Lakers, he made multiple key shots and plays that changed the momentum of the game.
Tatum and Brown both played over 40 minutes in this game. This heightened the playoff environment in the TD Garden as the Celtics shortened their bench and pushed their stars. It showed that while players like Payton Pritchard are great in spots, Boston goes as far as their dynamic can take them. They played almost the entire game and showed effort on both ends. Brown was integral in defending Doncic while scoring 31 points. The duo exemplified the importance of contributing to offense and defense, and when they were faced with the new duo of Doncic and James, they rose to the occasion.
Final Thoughts
The Celtics earned a huge win beating the Lakers in primetime. Tatum scored 40 points in one of his best games of the season. His shot-making was excellent, and his gravity impacted every facet of the game. From passing to defense, the star forward did it all. The Celtics improved to 46-18 with the win.
