Tatum’s 51 to save the Celtics in Charlotte

The two teams from the Eastern Conference opened this martin luther king day with an even start, where both franchises they would show their cards From the beginning. Tatum Y mcdaniels They began with an exchange of baskets, something that would carry over to the entire match.

The Celtics went from less to more in success. The good ball movement it didn’t translate into three-pointers released. It had to be Malcolm brogdonwho perfectly filled the gap left by the injured Jaylen Brown, the one who unblocked the game with notable actions from beyond the arc. Together with him, Pritchard and the aforementioned Boston star, extended the lead. Tatum closed the first quarter with 11 points.

The Hornets bench did not invite illusion in Charlotte. Erratic throws of a J.T. Thor that was not inspired, a Bryce McGowens that does not fit into the system and a mark williams who has not yet shown the dominance to which he had accustomed us in his time at Duke, they did not contribute to the group of North Carolina. McDaniels prevented the distance from being greater and, consequently, ending the game in the first part, thanks to a good hit from triple.

LaMelo Y Rozier they would be encouraged from the line of three to leave the score 66-55 at halftimewith 20 points from a Tatum who took the leader’s cape and 18 (4/5 T3) from a multipurpose McDaniels.

The second part ended as the first began: with an infallible McDaniels from the triple. Good partials from both teams. The Celtics tried to keep the difference below 10 points. Rozier and Mark Williams led a 10-0 run to get closer to six before the last quarter: 62-56.

Charlotte changed into overalls in the fourth quarter. The Hornets came within two, but Tatum knew the victory was his. he got the hero cape and secured the win for the Celtics with a last quarter to remember. The Massachusetts franchise forward finished with 51 pointsmatching Gilbert Arenas as third best scoring brand in history on this emblematic day.

The Celtics are still the best record in the NBA (33-12) and, despite the loss of Jaylen Brown, they take games forward. The reigning runners-up came close to scaring, but Tatum, in MVP modeshowed why they are one of the teams to take into account for the championship.