Growing up together in St. Louis, Bradley Beal was already well aware of Jayson Tatum's exceptional skill on the court.
Tatum's dominance was on full display Tuesday night as he poured in 50 points, leading the Boston Celtics to a 118-100 win over the Washington Wizards. The victory locks in the 7th seed for Boston and sets the stage for a Saturday playoff opener against Brooklyn. For Bradley Beal, it was clear that the Wizards had no answer for Tatum's game.
This game marked Tatum's third 50-point outing in a six-week span. His efficiency was staggering, going a perfect 17-for-17 from the charity stripe and adding eight boards, four assists, a steal, and a block in 41 minutes. His explosive 23-point third quarter was the catalyst that put the Celtics in the driver's seat for the rest of the game.
Boston seized control early in the second half with a 20-4 burst. During the third quarter, Tatum was virtually a one-man army, scoring 26 points—just one shy of the Wizards' total of 23. This momentum built on a strong finish to the first half, where a 10-4 run flipped an eight-point deficit into a 16-point advantage.
The Wizards managed to close the gap slightly in the final quarter, but the Celtics responded every time. The scoring duo of Tatum and Kemba Walker, the latter adding 29 points, sealed the victory and paved the way for a high-stakes matchup against Brooklyn and Kyrie Irving.
It has been a rollercoaster season for the Celtics, plagued by a tough mix of COVID-19 cases and player injuries. This includes All-Star Jaylen Brown, who is sidelined for the rest of the year following wrist surgery last week.
Despite the struggles, Tuesday's performance showed exactly what Boston is capable of when everything clicks. Having reached the Eastern Conference finals in three of the last four years, the Celtics know they can compete. As they prepare to face Brooklyn—the heavy favorites for the title—Boston hopes to carry this same energy and precision into the series.
While having some of your own star players to match up with a team with a dynasty title favorite is important, Boston will hope that its performance against Brooklyn, a team favored to win the NBA championship this year, will be matched.