Jayson Tatum wasted little time showing what Boston had been missing. Back on the floor Friday night for the first time in nearly 10 months, the All-Star forward delivered 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists as the Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks 120–100.
The game marked Tatum’s first appearance since tearing his Achilles tendon in Game 4 of last season’s Eastern Conference semifinal against the New York Knicks, an injury that sidelined him for exactly 298 days.
Rust was evident early—Tatum misfired on his opening six shots—but he connected on his next five once he settled in. “This is a huge step,” he told reporters afterward. “I’ve still got a long ways to go.”
His initial basket came on a put-back dunk with just over a minute left in the first half, boxing out Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg and slamming home Payton Pritchard’s missed three-pointer to nudge Boston ahead 52-51.
Tatum started, logged 27 minutes and finished plus-20. Teammate Jaylen Brown paced all scorers with 24 points, adding seven rebounds and seven assists.
The victory improved Boston to 42-21, keeping the club firmly in second place in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics travel to Cleveland to face the Cavaliers on Sunday.
Source: Hoops Wire
