Jayson Tatum explodes for 50 as Boston Celtics claim 7th seed in NBA playoffs

BOSTON — Bradley Beal has seen loads of spectacular performances from Jayson Tatum on a basketball court docket for the reason that two had been youngsters rising up collectively in St. Louis.

However after Tatum scored 50 factors to steer his Boston Celtics previous Beal’s Washington Wizards with a 118-100 victory Tuesday evening, giving Boston the seventh seed and a date Saturday evening with the Brooklyn Nets within the first spherical of the NBA playoffs, Beal mentioned there was nothing the Wizards may do to cease him.

“It didn’t matter who was in entrance of him,” mentioned Beal, whose Wizards will head again dwelling to face the Indiana Pacers in a winner-takes-all sport for the eighth seed Thursday evening. “That’s one thing I’ve been making an attempt to inform his ass for years. It’s robust once you guard him. He’s 6-9, he can get his shot off, he’s sturdy and might shoot the ball.

“He’s a three-level scorer. So you bought to respect every little thing he does on the ground. I do know a whole lot of his strikes, and a whole lot of it I used to be there, however I’m solely 6-3. I want I used to be 6-9 with robotic arms.

“He’s a particular expertise, and I’ve been saying that since he was in diapers. It doesn’t shock me.”

It was a scintillating all-around efficiency from Tatum, who reached 50 factors for the third time in six weeks. He additionally went 17-for-17 from the foul line, to associate with eight rebounds, 4 assists, a steal and two blocks in 41 minutes. That additionally included a 23-point explosion within the third quarter that put Boston again out in entrance for good.

“I don’t know,” Tatum mentioned when requested if performances like this one have formally pushed him into the sport’s famous person class. “I assume it helps. I don’t actually get caught up in those that suppose I’m a famous person and those who don’t. What does that actually imply? I do know that my teammates, I’ve earned their respect. I’ve earned the respect of the blokes I’ve performed towards and the coaches.

“I imagine in myself, and that’s all that issues.”

Tatum practically outscored the Wizards by himself in that third quarter (26-23), because the Celtics opened the second half with a 20-4 run. That, coupled with a 10-4 push to finish the primary half, turned what had been an eight-point lead for the Wizards right into a 16-point cushion for Boston.

And whereas the Wizards made a few pushes to get again into the sport early within the fourth quarter, the Celtics had a solution each time, normally coming from both Tatum or Kemba Walker, who had his personal spectacular 29-point efficiency to assist carry Boston into a gathering with Brooklyn and outdated pal Kyrie Irving.

“We’ve been by so much, and so we’re hardened in a whole lot of methods,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens mentioned. “We’ve been backs towards the wall a lot of the 12 months and [had] to play tonight to get into the playoffs simply to earn the fitting to play in all probability essentially the most proficient staff that’s been assembled since I’ve been within the NBA.

“It takes a whole lot of effort, it takes a whole lot of togetherness and it takes staying collectively by more durable instances. We’ll prepare for Brooklyn beginning Thursday after we get again collectively. We all know that problem. These guys are the very best of the very best, and going into that, if I’m a fan and only a normal fan of the NBA, I’ve a tough time seeing them lose. So we’re going to must play nice, we’re going to must play nice collectively and we’re going to must be actually, actually sound on each ends of the ground.”

It has been a season filled with ups and downs for the Celtics, who’ve handled a revolving door of gamers out and in of the lineup due to each accidents and COVID-19. That features All-Star Jaylen Brown, who’s out for the rest of the season after present process wrist surgical procedure final week.

However Tuesday evening’s sport was a reminder of what Boston, which has made the Jap Convention finals in three of the previous 4 seasons, is able to when it’s clicking.

These moments, nonetheless, have been few and much between this season. That’s how the Celtics wound up within the play-in match within the first place and why they may go into this first-round collection with the star-studded Nets as an enormous underdog regardless of their very own expertise and up to date playoff pedigree.

“Research, preparation — I believe the preparation is vital,” mentioned Celtics huge man Tristan Thompson, who completed with 12 factors and 12 rebounds in half-hour off the bench behind beginning middle Robert Williams, who left the sport early within the second half with a recurrence of a current battle with turf toe. “When you can put together on your opponent higher than they’ll put together for you, mentally put your self in that mode, I believe that’s the way you attempt to acquire an edge. We all know how proficient this Nets staff is. So for us, our preparation goes to be key.

“Guys gotta watch movie. KYP — know your personnel. Know the man you’re matched up with, figuring out their tendencies, figuring out what strikes they prefer to go to, as a result of these little issues depend within the playoffs. Each possession counts. So whether or not it’s [James Harden] ISO-ing to a step-back when he has the ball in his proper hand, or Kyrie ISO-ing to the sidestep from the fitting wing, or [Kevin Durant] when it’s in his left hand for the pull-up or proper hand to the drive, you’ve acquired to know that stuff going into the sport as a result of these little possessions can decide the sport.”

Towards a staff filled with stars, it additionally helps when you have a few of your individual to combat again with. With the way in which Tatum and Walker, particularly, performed Tuesday evening, Boston will head into its collection with Brooklyn hoping to see extra of the identical towards the staff favored to win this 12 months’s NBA title.

“Clearly, it’s going to be robust with out [Jaylen],” Tatum mentioned. “We all know how good of a staff they’re. Everyone is aware of the blokes that they’ve over there.

“However I’m excited to get this chance to be within the playoffs. It’s my fourth 12 months in a row. I don’t take that with no consideration. Myself and all people else, we’re excited. It’s the playoffs, so we simply must prepare for the subsequent sport.”