The Boston Celtics got superstar Jayson Tatum back on Saturday and also notched a big bounce-back win. The Cs, who previously lost to the Charlotte Hornets, went back to the win column with a 120-100 thrashing of the Dallas Mavericks in front of a fired-up TD Garden crowd.
Tatum, who tore his Achilles in May 2025, started the game to a rousing ovation. He missed his first five shots before making his first field goal of the 2025-26 NBA season on a putback jam. He then drained his first triple in ten months on the ensuing possession. He finished with 15 points for the Celtics, who won the last three quarters after a nip-and-tuck opening frame.
Jaylen Brown paced the Cs with 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists, while Derrick White added 20 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. Klay Thompson fired 19 markers to lead the Mavs, while rookie Cooper Flagg had 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Jayson Tatum to Boost Celtics End-of-Season Run?
Even without Jayson Tatum, the Cs have managed to remain competitive and were actually second only to the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference. Now, the Celtics have arguably their best player back for the stretch run, and that should only bode well for the 2024 NBA champions.
Boston, at the moment, is 42-21 and is four games behind Detroit and a couple of games ahead of the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers, who are third and fourth, respectively. With 19 games left, the Celtics can make one final push to maybe supplant the Pistons at the top or fend off both the Cavs and Knicks for the second seed.
Interestingly, the Celtics, with Jayson Tatum, are facing the Cleveland Cavaliers next on Tuesday. The Mavs, who are currently 12th in the West and on a six-game losing streak, next take on the Toronto Raptors, also on Tuesday.
