Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum blossomed into a star during the NBA resumption in Orlando last season. There’s a reason Celtics general manager Danny Ainge refused to trade Tatum for the likes of Kawhi Leonard and Anthony Davis in the past. He’s proved Ainge right more often than not.
That did not change during Wednesday’s season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday evening. With his team down 120-119 in the final seconds, Tatum went full hero with cape and all.
OMG. Jayson Tatum just called GAME!!! pic.twitter.com/tMHCC0dVw2
— Sportsnaut (@Sportsnaut) December 24, 2020
Talk about a dagger. What an absolutely brilliant (and perhaps lucky) shot from Tatum over Giannis Antetokounmpo right there. He ended up finishing the night with 30 points on 12-of-28 shooting, teaming up with fellow young star Jaylen Brown (33 points) to lead the way.
As for the Bucks, they had a chance to tie the game with 0.4 seconds remaining on the clock when two-time reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo was fouled. In stunning fashion, the Greek Freak missed the second of his two free throws to cement a 122-121 Celtics win in what has to be considered an instant classic between these two Eastern Conference rivals.
We anticipate these two teams vying for the Eastern Conference title as the 2020-21 NBA season continues. Could Jayson Tatum be the X-factor for his Celtics? It’s more than possible.
Here’s a dude who averaged 25.7 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists during the Celtics’ run to the conference finals a season ago. Tatum is now a legitimate NBA MVP candidate. He proved that and more Wednesday night against the Bucks.
Fans cooped up in their homes during the pandemic had their eyes on the Celtics-Bucks game Wednesday evening. The reactions to Tatum and his game-winning shot were aplenty.
Hell of a season-opening win by the #Celtics! Incredible game regardless of the result. But this is better.
— Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) December 24, 2020
Grind of a game for Jayson Tatum, but drilled the biggest shot of the night. Jaylen Brown was elite. Jeff Teague was a difference-maker.
The season has arrived.
jason tatum with the step back over giannis… sheesh pic.twitter.com/kupzozZOHo
— justin michael jerome (@JstnMchl) December 24, 2020
Jayson Tatum had 30 points and a game winner. He just said on TNT that he played “terrible.”
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) December 24, 2020
Tatum gave Giannis the sauce
— Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ) December 24, 2020
Some other angles of the Tatum bank shot: pic.twitter.com/lw63IUS7OV
— Chris Grenham (@chrisgrenham) December 24, 2020
WHAT A SHOT BY SUPERSTAR TO BE JAYSON TATUM! #Celtics
— Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) December 24, 2020
When Tatum put this headset on I said “Oh my god he’s gonna do a Britney dance routine!” and my boyfriend didn’t understand and I had to explain it and ruin my own night pic.twitter.com/8PEyhVXlCc
— Sophia Benoit (@1followernodad) December 24, 2020
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