Pelicans Scoop

Jayson Tatum Makes NBA History in Pelicans-Celtics

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum made NBA history against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Joey Linn|
Dec 25, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) waits for game action to resume during the first half against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden.
Dec 25, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) waits for game action to resume during the first half against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden. | Eric Canha-Imagn Images

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Boston CelticsNew Orleans Pelicans

The Boston Celtics entered Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans on a bit of a skid. Just 5-5 in their last 10 games, the defending NBA champions are still second in the Eastern Conference standings, but are not playing up to their standards.

Led by star forward Jayson Tatum, the Celtics have a deep team. Always in the mix for a top-five MVP finish and All-NBA first team spot, Tatum is again in that category this season.

Entering Sunday, Tatum was averaging 27.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in 35 appearances this season. In the first half of this game, Tatum made NBA history.

Jayson Tatum
Jan 12, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives to the basket during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at TD Garden. | Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images

Entering this game with 3,996 career rebounds, Tatum pulled down his 4,000th in the second quarter on Sunday.

Via Celtics Stats: “Jayson Tatum grabbed his 4,000th career rebound in the 2nd quarter tonight.”

Via Basketball Reference’s StatHead, Tatum is just the 22nd forward in NBA history to pull down 4,000 rebounds before turning 27 years old. Tatum is just the second Celtics player to achieve the feat, joining Antoine Walker.

Tatum’s all-around game has made him one of the NBA’s best players, and has also made Boston one of the league’s premier teams the last several seasons.

Looking to repeat as champions, Tatum and the Celtics are trying to work through this rough stretch.

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Joey Linn
JOEY LINN

Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA and WNBA for On SI. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined On SI to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts and in the classroom earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time, primarily serving as a Clippers beat writer.

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