Tatum is back: TD Garden erupts as Celtics chase banner No. 19

Boston Celtics are arguably the defining story of this NBA season. A team that once looked stranded after losing key contributors from the 2024 title run – Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday – and suffering a devastating injury to Jayson Tatum has transformed into a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference.

The MVP-level form of Jaylen Brown and Joe Mazzulla’s ability to hold the locker room together have been crucial in preventing the season from collapsing. Their resurgence now has the Massachusetts franchise sitting second in the East with a 42–21 record after a 120–100 win over the Dallas Mavericks overnight. That .667 winning percentage makes Boston the third-best team in the NBA, trailing only the Oklahoma City Thunder (.766) and San Antonio Spurs (.730).

The league has watched Boston claw back from the brink, but the return of its biggest star may be what truly sends a chill through the rest of the NBA. Jayson Tatum made his season debut against Dallas after tearing his right Achilles tendon in Game 4 of last year’s conference semifinals against the New York Knicks – an injury that initially seemed likely to sideline him for the entire season.

Yet 299 days later, nearly 10 months after that painful night at Madison Square Garden, the franchise cornerstone is back. Tatum started the game and scored his first points late in the second quarter after missing his first six attempts. He opened his account with a dunk, soaring to collect a Payton Pritchard missed three with 1:20 left before halftime. On the next Celtics possession, he drilled a three-pointer from the wing.

TD Garden erupted. The arena exploded with noise as every seat joined the celebration. The atmosphere reflected a city suddenly dreaming again of another championship banner. Banner No. 19 no longer feels so distant. It will not be easy – but it no longer seems impossible.

“It was everything I could dream of,” Tatum said after finishing with 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in 27 minutes, shooting 3-of-8 from beyond the arc. “It was tough – emotionally I had doubts many times, but I kept pushing every day.” Now the focus shifts toward regaining rhythm ahead of the playoffs.

One of the notable contributors on the night was Spanish rookie Hugo González. The youngster impressed in 19 minutes, finishing with six points, two rebounds and two assists.

The only sour note came with an injury to Nikola Vucevic. The Celtics center fractured a finger in the first half and is expected to miss several weeks.

NBA results from the night

• Charlotte Hornets 120 – Miami Heat 128
• Houston Rockets 106 – Portland Trail Blazers 99
• Denver Nuggets 103 – New York Knicks 142
• Phoenix Suns 118 – New Orleans Pelicans 116
• San Antonio Spurs 116 – Los Angeles Clippers 112
• Los Angeles Lakers 128 – Indiana Pacers 117

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.