Boston Celtics: Jayson Tatum’s top five games this season

Number 1:  2/13 vs. LAC

• 39 Pts (14-of-23 shooting)
• 9 Reb
• 1 Ast
• 1 Blk
• 1 Stl
• Win (141-133)

This game has a real shot to go down as the most entertaining throughout the whole season. Two overtimes, multiple lead changes, and the intensity of an NBA Finals game were all provided by this matchup.

The first meeting that these two teams gave the fans was a classic. The LA Clippers narrowly defeated Boston in OT back in November, and Boston had revenge on their mind.

Sadly, that revenge would have to come without Jaylen Brown.

However, Boston caught a break when it was announced Paul George would not be returning after just 14 minutes of action. Certainly not fair for Clippers’ fans, but it made the game sway slightly into Boston’s favor.

Jayson Tatum put up 15 points in the first half of the contest, and 14 points in the second half of the game. Those 29 points were not enough, as the game went into overtime due to a Marcus Morris Sr. 3-pointer.

In the first overtime, it was the Clippers who seemed to be pulling away, but constant scores from Tatum kept the Celtics in it. He led them to a second OT, where it was players like Gordon Hayward who capitalized on their chances.

Tatum even had a nice post move in which he got two Clippers up in the air to allow him the easy layup.

Where he shined in this game was the defensive end. Tatum was put on Kawhi Leonard, who made one of his six shots across both overtime periods.

Tatum certainly took the matchup to heart and made life extremely difficult for the reigning Finals MVP, finishing with a stellar 39 points of his own.

This game, especially with it being on the national stage, gave the NBA world a glimpse into what Tatum is capable of. From his absurd shot-making to his elite clamps, he has the tools to be a formidable wing in the upcoming years.