Ranking Jayson Tatum's top performances in his Boston Celtics career

Jayson Tatum has enjoyed a special career on the Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum has enjoyed a special career on the Boston Celtics / Maddie Malhotra/GettyImages
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No. 1: May 14, 2023, Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Minutes

Points

Rebounds

Assists

Steals

Blocks

Turnovers

Personal Fouls

FG%

3P%

FT%

41:40

51

13

5

2

0

0

1

.607

.600

.786

The 2022-23 Eastern Conference Semifinals were a back-and-forth affair, with the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers exchanging wins in each of the first four contests. The ‘Sixers were the first team to land consecutive blows, winning Game 4 in Philadelphia and Game 5 on the road, in the Garden.

The league’s MVP, Joel Embiid, returned from a knee injury in Game 2 of the series but experienced a little ring rust in his debut. Between Game 3 and Game 6, the heavyweight was extraordinary — averaging nearly 31 points and 11 rebounds. 

In Game 6, the ‘Sixers led 73-71 entering the fourth quarter. Tatum, who was 1/13 from the field through the first three quarters, came alive in the fourth — scoring 16 points while shooting 4/5 from the three-point line. Down 3-2 and facing elimination, Tatum’s late-game heroics had set the stage for Game 7 in the Boston Garden, but Tatum wasn’t finished.

Against the Philadelphia 76ers and the league’s MVP, Embiid, Tatum broke Stephen Curry’s record for the most points scored in a Game 7; notching 51 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals. Tatum was surgical, shooting 60.7% from the field and 60.0% from the three-point line — leading the Celtics to their third Eastern Conference Finals in only four years.

Tatum was showered with “MVP” chants by the Boston faithful, etching his name into Celtics lore.