BOSTON — For all the talent that’s on the court when the Celtics play the Bucks — with multiple All-Stars on both sides — Jayson Tatum still stood tall throughout Friday’s game. Not only did he score a game-high 34 points, but he elevated his play in the fourth quarter.
Tatum poured in 14 points in the final frame alone, shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from the field as he willed his Celtics to the win over the Bucks. He also chipped in 10 rebounds and five assists on his statline Friday, which included some nice passes. After the game, Jrue Holiday had a bold, decisive claim about Tatum.
“Nobody can guard him in the league,” Holiday said. “He’s a tough guard. ... JT, credit to him, just making plays. Making plays for other people. Trusting other people. You saw the kick-outs that he had and he had faith in his teammates. That’s what the best players do.”
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Tatum is having his latest impressive season as he’s been named first-team All-NBA for the past three years. He’s leading the Celtics in points, rebounds, assists, steals, 3-pointers and free throws made per game. Tatum’s ironman style is also a huge advantage as he rarely sits games, setting the tone for the entire team.
His teammates have that trust in him, too, as he helped lead the Celtics to the victory. The stars were all active Friday as Jaylen Brown scored 25 points for the Celtics, including a hot start to get the night started. Giannis Antetokounmpo also had 30 points and 11 rebounds while Damian Lillard scored 31 points. But it was Tatum who stepped up in the game’s biggest moments in the fourth quarter.
“It wasn’t a playoff game, but it was a special night,” Tatum said. “This is my eighth year, and these nights where you’re playing a team that’s really good with some special players, and the crowd is really involved. And guys are making plays and feeding off the energy of your teammates and of the crowd and the fans, the amount of times that we’ve won games in moments like that.”
Friday felt like a clash between two of the East’s best teams as there’s been history between these squads. The Bucks started slow but they’ve been playing their best ball of late. Plus, remember, these are the last two East teams to win an NBA title — the Bucks in 2021 and the C’s in 2024. Considering this was the third game in 39 days between the two teams, it was bound to be a little chippy. Plus, the Bucks had already dropped those first two games. So they were going to be gunning against the defending champs.
The referees understood the assignment, too, letting the Celtics and Bucks play a physical game. There surely could’ve been more fouls called throughout the game, but the refs let them play like a playoff game. The C’s themselves enjoyed that aspect as they leaned into the physicality against a Bucks team that thrives in those conditions.
“It’s just always a little something, something there as a competitor because you knocked them out in the playoffs,” Tatum said. “They knocked us out. We both won a championship in the last couple of years. Two prideful teams and you just always know it’s gonna be a battle and it’s gonna be fun and it’s gonna be really competitive.”
