The Boston Celtics have taken down the Golden State Warriors in overtime 121-118 at TD Garden behind 34 points from Jayson Tatum to avenge last year’s NBA Finals loss.
Tatum continued his phenomenal form in yet another MVP statement – maybe his strongest yet given the matchup – shooting 12-of-12 from the free throw line and adding four threes, a career-best 19 rebounds, six assists and three steals 48 minutes including playing the entire second half.
According to ESPN Stats and Information, he became just the 10th player in NBA history to reach 9,000 career points before the age of 25.
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Fri, 20 Jan
Friday January 20th
Down seven going into the fourth, the Celtics came with a flurry in the final period including a Jaylen Brown three tying the scores at 106-106 with 18.1 seconds left that’d ultimately send the game into overtime.
Boston looked like marching away with the win in the extra period after a Tatum triple and pair of free throws put the home side up eight with 38 seconds remaining.
But the Warriors kept fighting as Andrew Wiggins got fouled on a three-point shot – and converted two free throws – before a timely steal and Donte DiVincenzo three made it just a 121-118 Boston lead with 30.1 seconds left.
The suddenly flustered Celtics nearly turned the ball over again and eventually took a low percentage Al Horford fadeaway shot that hit back iron and gave Golden State one final look.
However, with no time-outs left, the best shot Golden State could get was a Jordan Poole 43-foot prayer that never looked like going in as the final buzzer sounded.
Although it wasn’t inconceivable to see such a hail mary shot to go in after Steph Curry’s stunning halfcourt make at the halftime buzzer – albeit that was from the greatest outside shooter of all time.
Elsewhere, Horford (20 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks), Marcus Smart (18 points, three steals), Rob Williams, (14 points, 11 rebounds) and Brown (16 points, nine boards) all impressed for the Celtics as all five starters scored in double figures.
For Golden State, Curry topscored with 29 points including six triples, adding seven assists, four steals and two blocks, while Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole chipped in 24 points apiece.
The result saw Boston extend its NBA-best record to 34-12, while the Warriors fell below .500 to 22-23.
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