Celtics head coach Brad Stevens praises Jayson Tatum after latest 50-point performance

Jayson Tatum's fourth NBA season has been, by far, his most impressive. 

The 23-year-old powered the Boston Celtics to a 125-119 Game 3 win over the Nets on Friday night at TD Garden to cut Brooklyn's series lead 2-1. 

Tatum notched 50 points to go along with six rebounds and seven assists in 41 minutes. It was his best game of the series thus far, and Celtics head coach Brad Stevens, much like he has all season, praised the St. Louis native after the win. 

"He's so advanced for 23 years old," Stevens said, according to ESPN's Tim Bontemps. "I've said the word 'special.' I don't say that very often, obviously. He just has a unique ability to score the ball, to slither through seams, to find angles to score, but then also he's got the vision to make every right read.

"He was super tonight."

Tatum had just 31 total points entering Game 3 as the Nets neutralized him on their home court. The Celtics did a much better job of getting him open on Friday night.

Tatum wasn't the only one who impressed, though. Marcus Smart put up 23 points, three rebounds and six assists, while Tristan Thompson had 19 points, 13 rebounds and one assist. Evan Fournier, who the Celtics acquired at the trade deadline, put up 17 points, five rebounds and two assists in the win. 

The only starter who was relatively ineffective for the Celtics was Kemba Walker, who had just six points, eight rebounds and three assists in 34 minutes. 

Boston will look to even the series on Sunday at TD Garden before heading back to Brooklyn for Game 5.