In the opening 19 minutes, Tatum logged 21 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals on 7-for-11 shooting and 1-for-4 from long range, delivering a productive start as Boston built its lead.
Tatum has returned from a serious injury after missing significant time this season and has shown signs of his previous form since coming back. He finished the regular season averaging 21.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game, while shooting 41.1% from the floor and 32.9% from three in 16 appearances.
Boston’s fast start on offense has been evident, with strong ball movement and efficient scoring in the early minutes. The Celtics appeared to generate easy looks, many of them involving Tatum as the focal point of the attack.
Tatum is in his ninth season with the Celtics, the No. 3 overall pick in 2017 out of Duke, and helped Boston win the 2024 NBA title before a second-round exit to the Knicks in 2025. His continued production in this series will be a key driver for Boston as it pursues another deep postseason run.
As Game 1 unfolds at home, Boston will look to sustain its early momentum and keep leveraging Tatum’s two-way impact as he chases further milestones in what remains of the playoffs.
