The Boston Celtics got a gritty 109-102 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night at TD Garden, but the real story was Jayson Tatum taking another meaningful step in his return from a torn Achilles tendon.
Tatum played a season-high 37 minutes — his heaviest workload since coming back — and delivered a season-high 26 points along with 10 rebounds. Twenty-one of those points came after halftime as he took over when the Celtics needed him most.
After the game, Tatum was characteristically honest about where his game stands right now.
“I know I look rusty, I know I’ve made some mistakes,” Tatum said. “But one thing I do know is I’m trying my ass off. I’m a little winded but 10 and a half months after tearing my Achilles I’m giving it all I got. And I know each game I’m going to get a little better.”
That kind of self-awareness and effort resonates. He isn’t yet the explosive, 50/40/90 version of himself, but he’s clearly pushing through the rust and fatigue. Through 10 games back, Tatum is averaging 19.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while shooting 38.3% from the field and 30.3% from three. The efficiency is still climbing, but the willingness to compete at a high level is already there.
Payton Pritchard Steals the Show Early
The Hawks came out firing, jumping to a 25-9 lead in the first quarter and forcing Boston to play catch-up for most of the first half. Payton Pritchard kept the Celtics in the game with a sensational first-half performance, pouring in 19 points before the break. He finished the night with a career-night 36 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Derrick White, Sam Hauser, and Luka Garza all chipped in with double figures. The Celtics flipped the script in the second half, outscoring Atlanta in the third quarter and pulling away late. Boston shot 47% from the field and 40% from three for the game.
The win improved the Celtics to 49-24, maintaining their hold on the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and giving them a full one-game lead over the Knicks after New York’s loss earlier in the week.
What It Means for Boston
This was another encouraging step for Tatum. A season-high in points and minutes, plus a second half that showed flashes of the player Celtics fans have been waiting to see. The rust is still visible, but so is the humble superstar who continues to compete hard every night.
The Celtics are winning games even when the three-ball isn’t falling consistently, and they’re doing it while integrating Tatum back into the flow. With only a handful of regular-season games left, every minute and every win counts as they prepare for what they hope will be another deep playoff run.
The Hawks, meanwhile, came in riding a hot streak (14 of their last 15) but couldn’t sustain the early momentum against a Celtics team that refused to fold.
Final Word
Friday night was far from perfect, but it was another step forward. Tatum is giving everything he has, 10-and-a-half months after tearing his Achilles. The rest — the rhythm, the efficiency, the explosive burst — will come with time and reps.
Celtics fans knew Tatum would improve their title chances, but even the biggest believers probably didn’t expect the team to keep winning at this rate while still searching for their best basketball.
The scary part for the rest of the East? Boston is winning without making shots consistently — and once those jumpers start falling, this team could become unstoppable.
Celtics fans, how encouraged are you by Tatum’s progress? Do you think 37 minutes and a season-high 26 points is a sign he’s turning the corner, or is there still a long way to go before he looks like his old self?
The playoffs are coming, and Boston is still very much in the title conversation.