Jayson Tatum Shines with 32 Points in Achilles Comeback
In Charlotte, Jayson Tatum scored 32 points to lead the Boston Celtics to a 114-99 victory over the Hornets on Sunday.
The performance marked a major step in his long Achilles comeback after a ruptured tendon last postseason.
Game highlights
Tatum opened the scoring with a dunk past Brandon Miller. He followed with a post-up jumper over LaMelo Ball.
He attacked the rim again against Ryan Kalkbrenner and hit a long 3-pointer near the Hornets logo. He left the game after 6:44 with nine points.
He re-entered early in the second quarter and hit a pull-up 3 after a pump fake on Miles Bridges. He later drew a three-shot foul on Ball.
Second half and closing sequence
Tatum added seven points in the third quarter, including tough finishes over Bridges and Kon Knueppel.
After missing his first four shots of the fourth, he muscled past Ball for a short jumper to make it 103-90. He then buried a 3-pointer to extend the lead to 16.
Box score and efficiency
Tatum played 31 minutes and shot 12-of-23 from the field. He made five of 10 three-point attempts.
He also contributed eight assists and five rebounds. Entering the game he was shooting a career-low 30.3 percent from deep.
| Player | Points | FG | 3PT | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jayson Tatum | 32 | 12-23 | 5-10 | 8 ast, 5 reb |
| Payton Pritchard | 28 | 10-18 | — | Key scoring role |
| Neemias Queta | 17 | — | — | Double figures |
| Baylor Scheierman | 14 | — | — | Double figures |
Historical context and milestones
The outing was the 112th time Tatum scored at least 30 while shooting 50 percent or better in his career. That marks a move closer to Paul Pierce’s total of 116 such games.
Larry Bird still holds the Celtics regular-season record with 192 games of that nature.
Late in the first half, Tatum became the youngest player in franchise history to reach 14,000 career points. He is the 15th-youngest player in NBA history to reach that mark.
Recovery comparisons
High-profile Achilles recoveries vary widely. Kevin Durant scored 30 in his fourth game back from his Achilles return.
Kobe Bryant reached a 30-point game in his eighth outing and his second season after the rupture. Dominique Wilkins scored 30 in his first game back on Nov. 6, 1992.
Team impact and outlook
The win clinched a playoff berth for Boston. It also secured at least 50 victories for the fifth straight season.
Jaylen Brown missed the game with left Achilles tendinitis. Derrick White was sidelined with a right knee contusion.
Payton Pritchard called Tatum’s performance encouraging. Teammates and staff noted his decisiveness and improved rhythm.
Tatum described the milestone as meaningful after 10½ months of rehab. He said he does not take postseason access for granted.
Notes
- Location: Charlotte, N.C.
- Final score: Celtics 114, Hornets 99.
- Tatum minutes: 31. Field goals: 12-23. Three-pointers: 5-10.
- Key teammates: Payton Pritchard, Neemias Queta, Baylor Scheierman.
