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Jayson Tatum’s 27 points and impressive fourth quarter performance inspired the Boston Celtics to mount a courageous comeback against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday morning.
The All-Star recorded a grand 27 points, 11 rebounds and four assists on 53 percent shooting as the Celtics defeated Nate Bjorkgren’s side 111-116 and improved their season record to 2-2.
Brad Stevens’ Eastern Conference finalists trailed the Pacers by 11 points heading into the fourth quarter, when a quick start led by rookie Payton Pritchard inspired an intense fightback. The 26th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft did a little bit of everything on both ends of the floor, finishing with ten points, five assists and five rebounds on 50 percent shooting.
Coach Stevens hailed Pritchard’s efforts, telling the media after the game: “He’s poised. He’s deceptive. He can finish. He knows how to play. I thought he did a good job on both ends tonight.”
The rook’s most imposing play came after he blew a lob, forcing a turnover only for him to hustle back and strip the ball from former Defensive Player of the Year Victor Oladipo. The steal led to Boston’s Marcus Smart being left wide open behind the arc, who drilled a three and extended the Celtics’ lead.
Chase and poke drill right here! Great job by Pritchard here. Instead of up 2, up 7. pic.twitter.com/LSsRMIEmHb
— BurlingtonBasketball (@Burlingtonhoop) December 30, 2020
All-NBA talent Jayson Tatum racked up 13 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, in which the Boston Celtics outscored the Pacers 33-17. The 6’10 power-forward scored his 4,000th NBA point on the night, making him the second Boston Celtic to score 4,000 points before their 23rd birthday.
That's 4,000 career points for JT ☘️ pic.twitter.com/EPKw6T2lWr
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) December 30, 2020
Tatum’s partner in crime Jaylen Brown sealed the win with an all-important steal from an Indiana inbound, robbing Justin Holiday and making an open layup to forge a two-possession game with 23.8 seconds to play. The third overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft has relished a spectacular start to the season, averaging 26 points, five rebounds and 3.7 assists in the past four games.
Brown, like Coach Stevens, sang the praises of rookie Payton Pritchard after the win: “Payton is the GOAT, man.” The Jays, (Tatum and Brown), combined for seven steals and 47 points as a duo.
Jaylen was undoubtedly Boston’s best player through three-and-a-half quarters, impressing especially on the defensive end. The 6’6 shooting guard held All-Star Domantas Sabonis to just 14 points on the occasion, who left the court with a discouraging +/- of -14.
The Celtics will now head home east back to TD Garden to face Ja Morant’s Memphis Grizzlies on New Year’s Eve.
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