Saturday at United Middle, the Boston Celtics took their revenge on the Chicago Bulls due to a historic efficiency from Jayson Tatum.
The five-time All-Star had 43 factors, 16 rebounds and 10 assists. Celtics win 123-98. It was his first triple-double of the marketing campaign and the third of his profession within the common season.
He’s the primary participant in Celtics historical past to attain at the least 40 factors, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in a recreation. It was the primary 40-point triple-double by a Celtic since Larry Chook. Tatum achieved the feat by capturing a scorching 16 of 24 from the ground, together with 9 of 15 from 3-point vary.
James Harden is the one different participant in NBA historical past to have 40 factors, 15 rebounds, 10 assists and 9 3-pointers. He had 53 factors, 16 rebounds and 17 assists with 9 3s in 2016 with the Houston Rockets towards the New York Knicks.
Tatum really received off to a gradual begin with simply three factors within the first quarter. However as soon as he received going, there was nothing the Bulls might do to gradual him down.
The 26-year-old caught hearth with 13 factors within the second quarter, 18 within the third and 9 within the fourth. He spoke to NBC Sports activities Boston’s Abby Chin after the sport about discovering his rhythm.
“It is a lengthy recreation. You attempt to discover methods to choose your spots, choose your streaks, particularly on a group this good,” Tatum instructed Chin.
“We have now so many guys that offensively it is nearly discovering your moments to dominate the sport. Joe (Mazzulla) is all the time simply attempting to make me dominate and amp up my teammates and make guys higher in numerous methods .”
Abby Chin caught up with Jayson Tatum after his triple-double towards the Bulls.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was stuffed with reward for his celebrity, who he says nonetheless does not get sufficient recognition for his greatness.
“I say that on a regular basis about him as a result of he is been doing nice issues for thus lengthy. I all the time suppose he is taken as a right,” Mazzulla mentioned. “As a result of he is been doing it for a very long time, and since it is comparatively straightforward for him, and we’re in Boston, which is our expectation. Nevertheless it was an important efficiency from him.”
The one honor that also eludes Tatum is the NBA MVP award. Most sportsbooks at present give him the fifth finest odds to win the dignity in 2025.
Mazzulla was requested if he thought Tatum’s skills had been being neglected within the MVP dialog.
“Yeah, no doubt, one hundred pc it’s,” he replied. “Once more, as a result of he is been doing it for thus lengthy and he is on a very good group, and I believe that hurts him generally. However his skill to do what he does in an important group, I believe, says extra about him as a participant.”
Joe Mazzulla explains how Jayson Tatum remains to be neglected throughout the league in MVP conversations after his historic efficiency towards the Bulls.
After Saturday’s rout of the Bulls, Tatum is averaging 28.3 factors, 9.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists whereas capturing 45.3 p.c from the ground this season. He’ll look to strengthen his MVP case when the C’s go to the Orlando Magic on Monday evening.
Tip-off for Celtics-Magic is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
