The Celtics came close to a big cold spell in Game 1 at home against Indiana. It took the perfect clean-up job from Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum at the end of the game to make us forget this extremely complicated evening, saved by a few brilliant shots from Jay's in the “mega-money-time”. “It was crazy! » admits the Celtics winger in the locker room corridor. “We knew we would have a second chance in overtime. We deserved it. We knew we would find the solution. It’s a crazy victory! »
Jaylen Brown's decisive 3-pointer with 5 seconds left to force overtime will of course stand out as the shot that allowed Boston to survive. But in the end, it was indeed Jayson Tatum who took matters into his own hands to guide the Celtics to victory. Not enough to make him smile at a press conference.
“Why should I be happy when the work is not finished? » he says to a journalist. “Is the job done?” I ask you the question. No ? So, we are not going to celebrate a job that is not finished. »
The 3-pointer that hurts
Author of 36 points, 12 rebounds, but also 4 assists and 3 interceptions, the Boston leader was a poison for the opposing defense even if the skill was not always there (12 out of 26 on shots) . Furthermore, it was often when Tatum found himself on the bench that the Pacers took the opportunity to make the difference. In overtime, it was quite naturally his decision to face Tyrese Haliburton.
Even if Jrue Holiday would also have made a great MVP, Jayson Tatum kept his nerve until the end, and ended up breaking the deadlock by causing Aaron Nesmith's 6th foul. Without forgetting, this 2+1 finished with one hand in front of TJ McConnell to put the locals back in the lead (124-123). In the process, it was a stupid loss of ball from Tyrese Haliburton which allowed him to drive home the point with a 3-pointer at the head of the racket.
Author of 10 of his 36 points in overtime, JT found the target at the best moment, and these two actions will therefore also remain like those which changed this Game 1 and prevented Indiana from starting very strongly.
| Jayson Tatum | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2017-18 | BOS | 80 | 31 | 47.5 | 43.4 | 82.6 | 0.6 | 4.4 | 5.0 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 13.9 |
| 2018-19 | BOS | 79 | 31 | 45.0 | 37.3 | 85.5 | 0.9 | 5.2 | 6.0 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 15.7 |
| 2019-20 | BOS | 66 | 34 | 45.0 | 40.3 | 81.2 | 1.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 23.4 |
| 2020-21 | BOS | 64 | 36 | 45.9 | 38.6 | 86.8 | 0.8 | 6.6 | 7.4 | 4.3 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 26.4 |
| 2021-22 | BOS | 76 | 36 | 45.3 | 35.3 | 85.3 | 1.1 | 6.9 | 8.0 | 4.4 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 26.9 |
| 2022-23 | BOS | 74 | 37 | 46.6 | 35.0 | 85.4 | 1.1 | 7.7 | 8.8 | 4.6 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 30.1 |
| 2023-24 | BOS | 74 | 36 | 47.1 | 37.6 | 83.3 | 0.9 | 7.2 | 8.1 | 4.9 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 26.9 |
| Total | 513 | 34 | 46.0 | 37.5 | 84.4 | 0.9 | 6.3 | 7.2 | 3.5 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 23.1 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
