The Boston Celtics pulled away with a close win after beating the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 3rd. However, it was Jayson Tatum who came out on top in the duel against Anthony Edwards after a dominating performance despite not having two of the best Celtics stars on the floor, subsequently putting an end to the debate on who’s really the better player between the two of them.
Tatum finished strong with 33 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, and 3 steals while also having a 58.2% true shooting percentage. Deuce carried the Celtics without Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis, who are both sidelined due to injuries. The 26-year-old star led the C’s in points, assists, and rebounds in what could be his MVP season.
Boston made up for their poor shooting by clogging their defense against Minnesota. Although the Timberwolves were having a great shooting night, their inability to protect the ball against pesky Celtics defenders led to multiple turnovers.
Meanwhile, Edwards shot 5-for-16 from the field, including his missed game-winner, and only accrued 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists. Fans were quick to point out how Tatum outdueled Edwards in their second matchup of the season. Some even believe that the 2024 champion finally ended the debate suggesting Ant is a better basketball player than him. Just a few months back, both stars joined Team USA for the 2024 Olympics, but Edwards was given more recognition than Tatum after they won the gold medal.
But, their matchups this season tell a different story. The Celtics are now 2-0 against Minnesota.
Moreover, Ant is Already 1-8 Against Tatum
Since entering the league, Edwards has only won once against Tatum. The last time he had the victory was back in November 2023, in an overtime win at home. Through those nine games, it’s also clear who had the better performance.
Tatum averaged 33.4 PPG compared to Ant’s 26.6 PPG. Though some of you might say JT had the better team, let’s not forget that the Wolves reached the Western Conference Finals not too long ago.
Regardless, these two young studs will meet again for more games, which will always be an insane matchup. Two of the brightest young stars going at each other, fulfilling the role of being the future face of the league.
