Jayson Tatum makes history in MVP performance against Bulls originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
On Saturday at the United Center, the Boston Celtics got revenge on the Chicago Bulls thanks to a historic performance by Jayson Tatum.
The five-time All-Star broke out with 43 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists in Celtics’ 123-98 comeback win. He marked his first triple-double of the season and the third of his career in the regular season.
He is the first player in Celtics history to score at least 40 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in a game. It was the first 40-point triple-double by a Celtic since Larry Bird. Tatum accomplished the feat while shooting 16 of 24 from the floor, including 9 of 15 from 3-point range.
James Harden is the only other player in NBA history to have 40 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists and nine 3-pointers. He scored 53 points, 16 rebounds and 17 assists with nine 3-pointers in 2016 with the Houston Rockets against the New York Knicks.
In fact, Tatum got off to a slow start with just three points in the first quarter. But once he got going, the Bulls couldn’t do anything to stop him.
The 26-year-old caught fire with 13 points in the second quarter, 18 in the third and nine in the fourth. She spoke with NBC Sports Boston’s Abby Chin after the game about finding her rhythm.
“It’s a long game. You try to find ways to pick your spots, pick your stretches, especially on a team that’s so good,” Tatum told Chin.
“We have so many guys that, offensively, it’s just about finding the moments to dominate the game. Joe (Mazzulla) is always trying to get me to dominate and amplify my teammates and make guys better in different ways.”
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla praised his superstar, who he believes is still not getting enough recognition for his greatness.
“I say this about him all the time because he’s been doing great things for a long time. I still think he’s taken for granted,” Mazzulla said. “Because he’s done it for a long time, and because it’s relatively easy for him, and we’re in Boston, which is the expectation. But it was a great performance by him.”
The only award that still eludes Tatum is the NBA Most Valuable Player award. Currently, most bookmakers give him the fifth-best odds of winning the honor in 2025.
Mazzulla was asked if he feels Tatum’s talents are overlooked in the MVP conversation.
“Yes, no doubt, 100 percent it does,” he responded. “Again, because he’s been doing it for so long and he’s on a really good team, and I think that hurts him sometimes. But I think his ability to do what he does on a great team says more about him as a player.” . player.”
After Saturday’s rout of the Bulls, Tatum is averaging 28.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists while shooting 45.3 percent from the field this season. He’ll look to boost his MVP case when the C’s visit the Orlando Magic on Monday night.
Celtics-Magic is scheduled to kick off at 7 pm ET.