Down 18 factors with 8:25 left to go within the fourth quarter, the Boston Celtics appeared achieved. The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder had performed a near-perfect recreation all night time, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was utterly dominant, and the Celtics may barely make a layup.
From that time on, Boston went on a 33-19 run to shut the sport, bringing themselves inside placing distance. A recreation that was wholly out of attain was a two-possession contest inside six minutes.
And on an evening when Jaylen Brown failed to seek out his footing, it was Jayson Tatum who stepped up and led the workforce in a approach he hasn’t in weeks.
For the previous few weeks, Tatum’s shot choice has been referred to as into query at instances. His pull-up threes have value the Celtics in massive moments, and of the 16 gamers who’ve shot a minimum of 100 of them this season, he’s the one one capturing under 30% (29.7%).
Towards the Thunder, Tatum put his shot choice apart in favor of appearing on the Celtics’ offensive hub — a task he’s proven flashes of getting again to in latest wins over the LA Clippers and Detroit Pistons however hadn’t totally recommitted to.
Reasonably than settling for big-swing photographs early-on, Tatum discovered his teammates. As an alternative of attempting to instantly pull-up from three to get in a rhythm, he let the ball discover him throughout the circulate of the offense. And when it got here time for him to step up within the clutch, that’s precisely what he did.
Within the fourth quarter in opposition to Oklahoma Metropolis, Tatum put up eight factors, three rebounds (together with two on the offensive finish), and 4 assists whereas capturing 3-of-6 from the sphere. He constantly created house for his teammates to work and made the best learn.
With simply over 40 seconds left within the recreation, Tatum got here off a brush display screen from Kristaps Porzingis, obtained two Thunder defenders to indicate, and located Derrick White within the nook for an enormous three.
Then, with six seconds to go, Tatum drove the lane, brought on three Oklahoma Metropolis gamers to break down, and located Porzingis within the nook for a protracted two. And if it weren’t for Porzingis’ lengthy toes, it will have been a 3 to convey the Celtics inside two factors.
The 2 greatest photographs of the sport had been made by White and Porzingis, however they had been created by Tatum.
However maybe extra necessary was Tatum’s work on the opposite finish of the court docket, as when the Celtics wanted stops probably the most, he was the one who stepped up and guard Gilgeous-Alexander. And he did it to perfection.
By the primary three quarters of the sport, Gilgeous-Alexander had 33 factors on 14-of-19 capturing from the sphere and 3-of-4 capturing from deep.
Within the fourth quarter, he didn’t make a area aim.
Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams stepped up when the Thunder wanted them most, however Tatum made certain that Gilgeous-Alexander wouldn’t be the one to beat the Celtics. He was Boston’s finest participant on offense and on protection, and that’s not a job many superstars are able to taking up.
Tatum obtained hit with a troublesome case of the December blues. His three-point share was approach down from early within the season, and it felt as if his selections on offense had been hurting the workforce at instances. Tuesday night time noticed him flip the script.
The Celtics might have misplaced in opposition to the Thunder, however Tatum’s decision-making utterly reverted to what it’s been when he’s at his finest. He managed the sport on offense, was aggressive driving to the basket, and shut down top-of-the-line guards within the league when it mattered most.
Whatever the consequence, Tatum’s play shouldn’t go unnoticed, and it’s an excellent signal for the Celtics transferring ahead.
