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Jayson Tatum delivered a composed performance in crunch time Friday night, finishing with 25 points to lead the Boston Celtics to a 108-100 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 3.
The forward addressed his late-game mindset postgame, saying, “I mean, as you probably could imagine, we just been in this scenario time and time again. Times we’ve fallen short and times we’ve succeeded.”
Tatum emphasized decision-making over hero ball in key possessions. “Whether it’s first play of the game or crunch time, it’s just about making the right read and making the right play,” he said.
The 28-year-old played a central role down the stretch, including a decisive three-pointer that pushed Boston ahead late in the fourth quarter.
Reflecting on that sequence, he said, “I think just off the initial shot when the play all started, D-White made a hell of a play getting an offensive rebound. That was big.”
He continued to break down the possession with a team-first perspective. “We just kind of got our spacing and found a matchup that we wanted and attack,” he said.
Tatum also highlighted the importance of collective execution in tight playoff games. “The rebound that D-White got, the steal that JB got. Payton hitting that big shot. Just as a basketball player being on a team where everybody’s just contributing and making plays.”
The Celtics outscored Philadelphia 29-15 in the fourth, with Tatum and Jaylen Brown combining for 19 of those points.
For Tatum, the moment carried added significance given his long recovery from an Achilles injury. “I think just first playoff road game I’ve been in since I got injured and just the environment, the circumstance of being tied 1-1 and knowing what’s on the line,” he said.
He added, “As a competitor, as a basketball player, you just see those emotions come out in those moments.”
Despite the strong finish, Tatum pointed to areas for improvement, noting, “It’s still had 17 turnovers and a lot of ugly possessions.”
Boston shot 44% from the field and 20-of-47 from three, maintaining a clear edge from beyond the arc, which has been a decisive factor in the series.
Tatum also addressed his perspective during his return stretch this season. “The mindset that I’ve had… I’ve been able to do a really good job of keeping things in perspective,” he said.
He continued, “I was out for such a long time. It may not seem like it because I’m back playing, but it was a very, very long time for me not to be doing what I love to do.”
The forward made it clear that external expectations are not his focus. “Expectations of what people want me to do is the last thing that has crossed my mind,” he said.
Instead, his emphasis remains on availability and team contribution. “The fact that I just get to put my uniform on and run out there with the team is a win for me.”
Boston now leads the series 2-1 heading into Game 4 on Sunday, with momentum built on late-game execution and experience.
