The Boston Celtics have been already probably the greatest groups within the NBA’s Jap Convention this season. Now they’re even higher. They could even be bordering on scary.
The remainder of the convention, and the NBA as a complete, was formally placed on discover on Friday night time when Jayson Tatum made his 2025-26 debut, and performed like he by no means missed any time in a 120-100 win over the Dallas Mavericks.
Jayson Tatum shines in season debut
Lower than a yr after struggling a ruptured Achilles tendon throughout Recreation 4 of the 2025 Jap Convention semifinals, Tatum made his return to the ground on Friday following a surprisingly quick restoration. It provides this model of the Celtics what is actually an enormous trade-deadline addition a month after the actual fact, and with out having to surrender something off its roster.
That’s the kind of addition we’re speaking about right here.
He performed 27 minutes within the win, posting a double-double with 15 factors and 12 rebounds. He additionally added seven assists and was simply three assists shy of a triple-double. Had he performed a extra regular workload by way of minutes, he most likely would have reached it (slightly simply) given the way in which he performed.
He completed the sport 6-of-16 from the sector, together with 3-of-8 from three-point vary.
It is just one recreation, however it is a game-changer for the Celtics and doubtlessly all the convention.
Boston has already proved that it has depth, sturdy teaching and the expertise to be a contender with out Tatum this season. Now it’s including probably the greatest gamers within the league and the core piece of a crew that is only one yr faraway from really successful an NBA championship, again into the combination.
The query was at all times going to be how near 100% he really is and if he might step proper again into the lineup and take management. It is just one recreation and there may be nonetheless an extended method to go for the rest of the common season, however the Celtics should be feeling actually good about what they noticed in that one recreation.
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