"Jayson Tatum admitted before the game that he wasn't particularly excited about the prospect of returning to the building where he tore his Achilles, and he started icy cold from the floor. He was 2-for-11 in the first half, and after the game, he said the return was 'a lot, especially at the beginning.'"
"Tatum settled into the game. He was 5-for-11 in the second half and nearly recorded yet another triple-double with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists, once again looking like a willing and incredibly capable distributor."
"Celtics fans will want to hand-wave away the inefficiencies as a result of nerves, a tough game against an amped-up Knicks team, and exhaustion down the stretch, since he played extended minutes as the primary offensive option sans Jaylen Brown."
"Knicks fans, meanwhile, can quite rightly point out that they have a number of capable, pesky defenders who can bother Tatum, and that they are unlikely to be less amped up in the postseason."
Jayson Tatum made his return to Madison Square Garden after a serious injury, receiving applause from fans. He struggled initially, shooting 2-for-11 in the first half but improved to 5-for-11 in the second half, finishing with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists. Despite his strong performance, Tatum's overall shooting was inefficient at 7-for-22, and he had six turnovers. The Celtics lost to the Knicks, who maintained their hopes for a higher playoff seed, showcasing their defensive capabilities against Tatum.
Read at Boston.com
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