CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – JANUARY 16: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics. (Photograph by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Photographs)
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It isn’t every day {that a} single participant’s efficiency conjures up an away crowd to cheer for them. With 51 factors, seven pictures from three, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists, Jayson Tatum obtained “MVP” chants from the followers in Charlotte on Martin Luther King Jr. Day because the Boston Celtics sealed the deal in opposition to the Charlotte Hornets 130-118.
Tatum additionally shot an ideal 14/14 from the free-throw line. With this unimaginable efficiency, Tatum now holds probably the most fifty-point video games in Celtics historical past with 5, overtaking Larry Chicken.
When Tatum had 48 factors within the recreation’s closing seconds, the Hornets fanbase momentarily transformed as their annoyed younger staff dropped their chins. The Queen Metropolis’s residents made their appreciation heard as Tatum pulled up for the three-point shot to place the nail within the coffin. Tatum additionally positioned himself in all-time scoring performances on MLK Day. Tatum made a giant leap and is now tied with Gilbert Arenas in third place behind Damian Lillard (61) and Kemba Walker (52). Tatum grew to become the fourth participant to attain no less than 50 factors on MLK day. In the meantime, his teammate Blake Griffin, who celebrated this vacation with a 47-point outing in 2011, moved down on the checklist.
The Celtics proceed to separate themselves from the remaining. About midway by way of the NBA season, and with the All-Star Break across the nook, the Celtics have 4.5 video games between them and the second-seed Brooklyn Nets within the Jap Convention. Whereas the race is extremely tight within the West, with half a recreation separating the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzles, the Celtics at present maintain the very best report within the league with 33 wins and 12 losses.
The 24-year-old has been stellar for the Celtics up to now this season and is in an incredible spot to contend for the MVP award. The Celtics have additionally been nice total and can solely enhance additional as soon as Jaylen Brown returns from harm. With an entire different half of the season but to be performed, it’s exhausting to ensure their second consecutive NBA Finals look. However with momentum clearly on their aspect, greatest imagine that Tatum and the Celtics won’t be slowing down any time quickly.
