BOSTON – For all the talent on the court when the Celtics play the Bucks, with multiple All-Stars on both sides, Jayson Tatum still held high during Friday’s game. Not only did he score a game-high 34 points, but he stepped up his game in the fourth quarter.
Tatum poured in 14 points in the final frame alone, shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from the field at will. his Celtics to victory over the Bucks. He also had 10 rebounds and five assists in his stat line Friday, which included some nice passes. After the game, Jrue Holiday had a bold and decisive statement about Tatum.
“Nobody can guard him in the league,” Holiday said. “He’s a tough guard. … JT, credit to him, just making plays. Making plays for other people. Trusting other people. You saw the sacks he made and he had faith in his teammates . That’s what the best players do.”
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Tatum is coming off an impressive final season as he has been named to the All-NBA first team for the past three years. Leads the Celtics in points, rebounds, assists, steals, three-pointers and free throws made per game. Tatum’s ironman style is also a huge plus as he rarely sits out games, setting the tone for the entire team.
His teammates also have that confidence in him as he helped lead the Celtics to victory. The stars were all active on Friday as Jaylen Brown scored 25 points for the Celtics, including a hot start to start the night. Giannis Antetokounmpo also scored 30 points and 11 rebounds, while Damian Lillard scored 31 points. But it was Tatum who stepped up in the game’s biggest moments in the fourth quarter.
“It wasn’t a playoff game, but it was a special night,” Tatum said. “This is my eighth year, and these nights when you’re playing a really good team with some special players, and the crowd is really involved. And guys make plays and feed off the energy of your teammates, the crowd and the fans, the amount of times we’ve won games in moments like that.”
Friday was like a showdown between two of the best teams in the East, as there has been history between these teams. The Bucks got off to a slow start but have been playing their best ball lately. Also, remember that these are the last two East teams to win an NBA title: the Bucks in 2021 and the C’s in 2024. Considering this was the third game in 39 days between the two teams, it was probably a bit far-fetched. Also, the Bucks had already lost those first two games. So they would be gunning for the defending champions.
The refs also understood the assignment, letting the Celtics and Bucks play a physical game. There probably would have been more fouls called throughout the game, but the refs let them play like a playoff game. The C’s themselves enjoyed that look as they leaned into the physicality against a Bucks team that thrives in those conditions.
“It’s always a little bit, something there as a competitor because you knocked them off in the playoffs,” Tatum said. “They kicked us out. We’ve both won a championship in the last two years. Two proud teams and you always know it’s going to be a battle, it’s going to be fun and it’s going to be really competitive.”