Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Jayson Tatum Shares the Keys to His 41-Point Performance in Celtics Win vs. Cavaliers
The Celtics delivered a haymaker in the third quarter of their 117-113 victory over the Cavaliers, putting 41 points on the board while limiting Cleveland to 26.
Jayson Tatum led that charge, registering 18 of his team-high 41 points in the third frame. That included engineering a 13-2 run, burying a step-back three from the left wing, producing multiple layups, tipping in one he missed, and finding Al Horford for a left-corner three on a drive-and-kick that helped Boston build a lead that grew as large as 21.
The four-time All-Star's night began quietly, scoring two points and taking no free throws in the first 12 minutes.
But in the second quarter, starting with a thunderous put-back jam, he generated 15 on 5/6 shooting. His aggressive approach also led to him tacking on five points from the stripe on six free-throw attempts.
Then came the dominant third quarter that positioned the Celtics for their first win over the Cavaliers this season after dropping their first two tilts against Cleveland in overtime.
Tatum's 41-point performance represents the ninth time he's registered at least 40 this season, the fifth-most such games in the NBA. It's also his 34th with at least 30 points, the most by a Celtics player in a season since Larry Bird in 1987-88.
After the game, he conveyed the keys that sparked his scoring.
"Really got to the free-throw line tonight, and I just got some easy ones early, right?" expressed Tatum. "Easy ones early; layup in transition, getting downhill, finishing at the basket, just kind of opens things up.
"It wasn't like I was discouraged or worried because I hadn't shot the ball that great out the break. Just came out here with the mindset (of) trying to find the way to win."
Further Reading
A Top Celtics Free-Agent Target Signs Elsewhere, Where Does Boston Go from Here?
Former Celtic Defends Jayson Tatum After His First-Career Ejection
