Boston Celtics: Second Half Comeback Falls Short in 100-94 loss to Blazers
By Thomas King
Tatum Time
Jayson Tatum made a career-high five three-point shots and matched his career high with 27 points in the loss. In the first half, he was the only scoring threat for a team that was looking for answers.
In the third quarter, Tatum nailed four consecutive three-pointers to bring Boston back into the game along with Kyrie Irving. Tatum shot 9-for-18 and 5-for-9 from beyond the arc to go along with 8 rebounds and 2 blocks.
After a bad five-game stretch in which he settled for too many long two-point shots, Tatum has been much better in his shot selection, either launching the three or forcing his way into the paint. He’s also gotten his scoring opportunities more in the flow of the offense, without having to search out his own shot.
“I thought he played better against Utah,” Brad Stevens says of Jayson Tatum, “and that probably had him feeling good (tonight)... It’s funny how the game rewards you.”
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) November 12, 2018
After scoring just four points in Phoenix, Tatum scored 21 points on 50 percent shooting at Utah.
Against Portland, on a night when Boston shot 38 percent from the field and 33 percent from deep, Tatum was the only Celtics player who made at least half his shots.