After his season-high 45 points wasn’t enough to see them overcome Charlotte in a 121-118 overtime defeat early on Tuesday, Jayson Tatum played through illness and produced a decisive contribution during their narrow win over Eastern Conference rivals Milwaukee – the star forward is glad to be back home.
Tatum reaffirms pride for playing when able, illness or not
- Tatum finishes 119-116 win over Adrian Griffin’s Bucks with 21 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and a block in 36 minutes. Efficient bench production certainly helped, while Jaylen Brown (26 pts, 8 assists) and summer acquisition Kristaps Porzingis (21 pts, 6 rebounds) also impress
- “We bounced back after the last game, might’ve needed to lose one to regain our focus. I like how we responded in the fourth, they made a run late and that’s a really good team,” he tells ESPN’s Katie George post-game
- Boston travel to Orlando Magic (10-5) – one of four teams tied for second in the Eastern Conference – on Thursday night (7.30pm BST) before a welcome seven-game home stint between November 26 and Dec. 17
- Boston (12-3) improve to 6-0 home record after impressive victory over East rivals in Milwaukee, who’ve been struggling defensively and still enduring growing pains figuring out Damian Lillard’s fit in their offense
Mark Jones and Doris Burke on ESPN’s televised commentary broadcast said they’d monitor it, such was the uncertainty surrounding Jayson Tatum’s status pregame and some disconcerting visuals from the man himself before the second quarter.
Hunched over and clearly uncomfortable, the 25-year-old wasn’t feeling good. He missed team shootaround in the morning, was listed as questionable on the injury report and is known for his stubborn tendency to play through pain in the past.
“Woke up not feeling well but I hate missing games… pride myself on playing and just wanted to come back home [to Boston after a four-game road trip], got some extra rest, medicine, fluids and figured out a way to come out here.”
He leads the team in scoring (28.2), rebounds (9.0) and steals (1.1) per game so far this term, while pitching in with 4.1 assists – third-highest on the team – as many critics foresee this year being another where his MVP credentials intensify if healthy.
Although he has been criticised for a slow start to proceedings this season, Tatum’s running mate Jaylen Brown began this contest purposefully, punishing a sleepy Bucks defence for passivity in the opening seconds and driving to the basket for two.
His ball-handling skills have historically come under scrutiny but he led Joe Mazzulla’s side in assists (8) here and didn’t panic when it looked like he’d lose his dribble or opposition traffic applied pressure on him in possession.
“Just put pressure on the defence, great things happen when you attack the rim, for yourself and others when you draw extra defenders… gotta make the right play,” Tatum said postgame and that rang true across the whole ball club here.
Al Horford had 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists, Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard pitched in with 10 points apiece while Jrue Holiday’s poor shooting night (1-of-8 shooting, 1-of-5 3PM) came against his former teammates.
That didn’t detract from another impactful off-ball defensive display guarding multiple positions, including that of Giannis Antetokounmpo – who missed a series of layups he often makes, scoreless from deep after hoisting a trio of three-point attempts and frustrated during a game where his impact was predictably stifled.
Following a string of injuries, his All-Star teammate Khris Middleton still isn’t all the way back into top gear and the same could be said for Damian Lillard.
The latter had 11 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and was struggling, to the point where Brook Lopez (28 points, seven rebounds) was almost single-handledly keeping them in the game as the deficit increased above 20 points upon occasion.
Ultimately, the better and more cohesive team prevailed on the evening and Milwaukee’s late surge proved futile for they had given up too many cheap baskets without reply earlier. Just when you thought it might be a quiet night for Kristaps Porzingis after an anonymous first quarter, he too feasted in the paint.
What’s next?
Milwaukee entertain two struggling sides in Washington and Portland at home this weekend before Miami away in cup action followed by an unpredictable duo of Chicago and Atlanta – for vastly different reasons – the following week.
Boston face Orlando, Atlanta and Chicago between now and next Wednesday before a televised matchup at home against Philadelphia in the early hours on December 2.
Picture source: Getty Images
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