How Jayson Tatum Stuck By Competitive Edge In Celtics-Magic Series

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum was on a mission throughout Round 1 against the Orlando Magic, and that wasn’t only evident in the six-time All-Star’s performance that generated “MVP” chants in Game 5.

Tatum’s commitment to demonstrating true leadership also came in the form of the 27-year-old’s attitude, which required sticking by the good old silent treatment — reserved for Magic star Paolo Banchero. The pair is linked through their Blue Devil brotherhood as two of Duke’s finest NBA stars, but Tatum put his relationship with Banchero to the side. Tatum, in fact, didn’t speak at all to Banchero until Boston sealed its 120-89 Game 5 win and punched its ticket to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

“I got to talk to him a little bit in the hallway after the game,” Tatum said following Tuesday night’s series closeout win at TD Garden, per CLNS Media. “I didn’t say two words to him during the series. That’s tough, but that’s part of competing. Just trying to have that edge throughout the series, but I couldn’t be happier for him and the player that he’s become. From Duke and year after year. He was unbelievable this series. He made it tough on us. He’s a matchup nightmare and he’s only gonna get better and better, and I’m certain that we’ll have many more battles during the upcoming years.”

Orlando was treated to a not-so-friendly display of postseason excellence from Tatum, as he scored a game-high 35 points, shot a perfect 11-of-11 from the free-throw line and grabbed eight rebounds with 10 assists. That secured Tatum’s 52nd career playoff double-double and made him the second Celtics player ever to score 30-plus points three times consecutively in the playoffs — the other was Larry Bird. It helped Boston gain some much-needed rest after a physically taxing series with the Magic, and prompted a roaring “You got Boston” chant in the closing seconds of the contest.

It was especially frustrating for Banchero, who picked up three straight fouls and inflated his total to five midway through the third quarter. Tatum and the Celtics capitalized from that moment and turned a nail-biting back-and-forth battle into a 30-9 run to wrap up the frame and head into the fourth quarter ahead with an 83-62 lead. Banchero still logged a tremendous series performance, especially for a 22-year-old — he averaged 29.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists — but it wasn’t enough to dethrone Boston.

Tatum and the Celtics will continue their title defense in Round 2 and currently await the winner of the New York Knicks-Detroit Pistons first-round series.