The Boston Celtics, the reigning champions, successfully regained momentum with a decisive 115-93 victory over the New York Knicks in Game 3 of their second-round series on Saturday. After surrendering 20-point leads in the first two games, the Celtics effectively managed the game to narrow the Knicks` series lead to 2-1.
During this performance, Jayson Tatum contributed 22 points. This achievement allowed him to surpass his revered idol, the late Kobe Bryant, securing the second position for the most playoff points accumulated by a player aged 27 or younger. Only LeBron James holds a higher total than Tatum at the same age. The following is a look at the top players in this specific category, which features an impressive collection of stars.
Most Points in NBA Playoff History — By Age 27
- LeBron James: 3,275 points
- Jayson Tatum: 2,894 points
- Kobe Bryant: 2,889 points
- Kevin Durant: 2,620 points
Tatum`s game on Saturday afternoon wasn`t his most spectacular, but it marked a significant improvement compared to his previous performances in the series. He successfully made five 3-pointers (contributing to the team`s total of 20 threes, nearly matching the 25 they made across the first two games combined). His final stats included 22 points, along with nine rebounds, seven assists, and two steals.
Remarkably, this contest was already the 120th playoff game of Tatum`s career. As a rookie, he played a key role in the Celtics reaching the Eastern Conference Finals, where they nearly overcame LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Since then, he has consistently made the playoffs every year. Over his eight professional seasons, he has celebrated a championship victory, advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals five times, and only faced a first-round elimination once.
While Tatum has certainly benefited from playing alongside strong teammates, he has been the primary engine driving the Celtics` success throughout much of his career, particularly over the last four seasons. Although his postseason play has occasionally drawn criticism, which at times has been warranted, this scrutiny is also a natural consequence of consistently performing on the biggest basketball stages year after year. Overall, Tatum`s production and playoff longevity are difficult to dispute.
Prior to Saturday`s game, Tatum held career playoff averages of 24.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. Historically, only five other players in the NBA with at least 50 playoff appearances have maintained career averages meeting or exceeding these numbers: Elgin Baylor, LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Luka Doncic.
Discussions surrounding Tatum`s career legacy frequently arise after every game or series he plays, and this trend is likely to continue in the coming week as the Celtics strive to overcome a 2-0 deficit and keep their aspirations for a consecutive championship alive. To achieve this challenging feat, the team will undoubtedly require Tatum to perform at his absolute best.
Jasper Hawthorne