Even as the Boston Celtics absorbed a disappointing home loss in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night, the organization delivered a significant piece of positive news that underscored Jayson Tatum’s rapidly ascending playoff legacy.
The Celtics announced that Tatum has officially surpassed Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant for the second-most playoff points in NBA history by a player before turning 29 years old. The Duke product now sits at 3,056 career playoff points in that age bracket, trailing only LeBron James, who accumulated 3,871 points before his 29th birthday.
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Tatum, who will turn 29 next March, has already logged an impressive 126 playoff games across his nine NBA seasons. His postseason résumé includes five Eastern Conference Finals appearances and two NBA Finals runs, showcasing remarkable consistency and durability for a player still in the prime of his career.
In addition to passing Bryant on this age-specific list, Tatum recently surpassed Hall of Famers Manu Ginobili and former MVP Russell Westbrook on the NBA’s all-time playoff scoring leaderboard. These milestones highlight the steady accumulation of production that has defined his postseason career, even as he continues to chase his first championship.
Despite the historic announcement, Tuesday’s on-court result offered a sobering reminder of the challenges still ahead. The Celtics fell to the 76ers in Game 5, with Tatum finishing the night with a solid but not dominant stat line of 24 points, 16 rebounds, and four assists. Boston’s shooting woes proved costly, as the team went just 11-for-39 (28.2%) from three-point range—a trend that has haunted them this postseason.
The Celtics are now 1-7 at home this season when shooting below 30% from deep, placing added pressure on their ability to close out the series. Head coach Joe Mazzulla’s squad will look to rebound in Thursday’s Game 6 on the road, where they hope to avoid a return trip to TD Garden for a decisive Game 7 on Saturday.
Postgame, Tatum remained measured in his assessment of the defeat.
“First of all, give them credit,” Tatum said via ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. “They played well. And yeah, a few looks that we felt good about that we just didn’t make. But sometimes that happens. You know, it’s just tough. Not scoring the way you want to puts a lot of pressure on your defense, and they made some plays at the other end.”
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Reserve guard Payton Pritchard echoed the need for improvement, particularly regarding the team’s three-point shooting variance between home and road games.
“I don’t know,” Pritchard said when asked if the Celtics shoot better away from home. “We’re going to have to figure that out. Can’t really put my finger on it, but honestly, it feels like we’ve been better on the road. We don’t want that to necessarily be the case. We want to be dominant at home and on the road. Definitely got to get that fixed.”
As the series shifts back to Philadelphia for Game 6, the Celtics will lean on their superstar forward’s proven playoff pedigree. Tatum’s ability to deliver in high-stakes moments—coupled with his historic scoring pace before age 29—provides Boston fans with optimism that their team can still advance, even after a tough Game 5 loss.
With a series-clinching opportunity just days away, Tatum’s latest milestone serves as a timely reminder of his place among the game’s all-time greats at a similar stage of their careers. Now, the focus turns to translating that individual excellence into team success on the court.