The Boston Celtics’ title protection is off to a scorching begin with a 7-1 report heading into Wednesday night time’s extremely anticipated showdown towards the Golden State Warriors at TD Backyard.
One of many causes for Boston’s sturdy begin is Jayson Tatum’s scoring prowess.
The famous person ahead led all gamers with 28 factors on 10-of-21 taking pictures (6-of-14 from 3-point vary) within the Celtics’ 123-93 street victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night time.
Tatum now has 240 factors scored this season, which locations him first within the NBA rankings.
1. Jayson Tatum, Celtics: 240 factors
2. Anthony Davis, Lakers: 228
3. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets: 207
4. Luka Doncic, Mavericks: 202
5. LaMelo Ball, Hornets: 200
Tatum has additionally been crimson scorching offensively to start out video games. He leads the league with 106 first-quarter factors, a complete bolstered by the 16 factors he scored within the first 12 minutes of Monday’s win over the Hawks.
Nobody else is even near Tatum within the first quarter but.
1. Jayson Tatum, Celtics: 106 factors within the first quarter
2. Anthony Edwards, Timber Wolves:71
3. Anthony Davis, Lakers:62
4. Damian Lillard, Bucks:61
4. Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers:61
Total, Tatum is averaging 30 factors per sport on 48.1% taking pictures, together with 35.5% on 3-pointers. He’s the one Celtics participant to common greater than 30 factors in a full season (2022-23), and he’s about to do it a second time.
Tatum’s spectacular scoring propelled the Celtics into first place in factors scored at 123.6 per sport. The Celtics additionally lead the league in first quarter scoring with 36.3 factors per sport. They outscore their opponents by 7.5 factors per sport within the first quarter.
It is nonetheless very early within the season, however the Celtics’ offensive explosion by way of eight video games is an encouraging signal for this workforce’s possibilities of repeating as champions. And it is value noting that star middle Kristaps Porzingis, who can rating greater than 20 factors per sport himself, has but to play as he continues to recuperate from a leg harm.
