CHICAGO — The Boston Celtics, led by Jayson Tatum, faced a challenging start against the Chicago Bulls. However, the defending NBA champions gradually found their rhythm and secured a convincing 123-98 victory on Saturday night. Tatum’s remarkable performance, which included 43 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists, drew parallels to the legendary Larry Bird, a Hall of Famer and former Celtics standout.
Tatum’s impressive triple-double marks the third of his career and is particularly notable as it is the first for a Celtics player featuring 40 or more points since Bird accomplished a similar feat with 49 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists against Portland on March 15, 1992. Despite the individual accolades, Tatum insists the team’s success remains paramount. He expressed his admiration for Bird, stating, “Larry Bird is probably the best player to ever wear this uniform. So any time you accomplish something in the same sentence as him, it’s something special, even if you never reach that pinnacle.”
In his 13 seasons with the Celtics, Bird recorded 59 triple-doubles, and according to team statistics, Tatum’s was unique as it combined over 40 points with 15 or more rebounds. This achievement also marked Tatum’s sixth consecutive double-double and 14th of the season.
Tatum began to heat up in the second quarter, contributing significantly to Boston’s offense. He demonstrated remarkable scoring ability in the third quarter, netting 18 points during a dominant stretch that extended the Celtics’ lead to 93-77 at the end of the third. Tatum finished the game with a shooting percentage of 66.7%, making 16 of 24 attempts from the floor, including 9 of 15 from beyond the arc. He also added two free throws to round out his scoring total.
“As a basketball player, you feel the rhythm, the ball is finding you,” Tatum remarked. He acknowledged the role of Coach Joe Mazzulla in challenging him to elevate his game and support his teammates. “Joe just challenges me every night, just to amplify my teammates and figure out ways to dominate all over the court,” Tatum said, highlighting the fluidity of his play on a given night.
During the game, the teams were tied at 42 midway through the second quarter until Tatum and the Celtics discovered their offensive flow. At halftime, Boston held a slim 61-54 lead, having gone on an 8-0 run that pushed their advantage to as much as 12 points. In the third quarter, the Celtics took control again after the Bulls threatened to come within five points.
Coach Mazzulla praised Tatum’s ability to adapt, saying, “He went outside what we normally do and that’s a testament to him. Just his shot-making, his decision-making, his ability to rebound. I thought he kind of controlled the entire game.”