Making history in the Celtics‘ victory over the Suns on Saturday was Jayson Tatum, who refused to sit out a single second of the team’s second half. Saturday night, Boston defeated the Phoenix Suns 117-107, and Jayson Tatum made Celtics history.
With 29 points, ten rebounds, seven assists, and a steal for the club, the five-time All-Star packed the stat sheet. Out of the nine threes he hoisted, he also drilled five.
Tatum back-to-back buckets on KD š± pic.twitter.com/ji2oL8sl5b
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) March 10, 2024
Tatum now has more at-large performances than any other player in team history after recording his ninth career game with at least 25 points, five three-pointers, ten rebounds, and five assists, per Stat Muse.
Tatum masterclass on display
The two-time All-NBA First Team selection took some time to settle into a groove, leading to halftime with seven points on 3/10 shooting. However, Kevin Durant scored 25 of his 45 points after the break, making 10 of his 13 shots to go, and Tatum was not going to sit out a minute of that.
Water eventually leveled out, and he scored 22 points, making 4/7 threes in the second half to assist the Celtics in holding off the Suns’ Durant-led comeback attempt.
JT blew 'em a kiss after the deep three š pic.twitter.com/8BvxIUpDTB
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) March 10, 2024
He said,
“Felt like I was getting into a rhythm at some point,” Ā “But I would make a couple (of) shots, then miss like three (or) four. And the game was starting to get competitive and things like that, I just wanted to stay in. I don’t really say that many times, but I just told Joe, “I want to stay in the rest of the game.'”
"The game was starting to get competitive, and I just wanted to stay in"
Jayson Tatum said he asked Joe to stay in the entire 2nd half vs the Suns pic.twitter.com/GhxY5OXCaT
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) March 10, 2024
