BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 18: Jayson Tatum #0 and Kemba Walker #8 of the Boston Celtics react during the second half of a game in the play-in tournament against the Washington Wizards at TD Garden on May 18, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)
Boston Celtics wing Jayson Tatum dropped 50 points on the Washington Wizards in Tuesday’s play-in game, sending NBA Twitter into a frenzy.
Jayson Tatum is getting all the love from the NBA world after lighting up the Washington Wizards for 50 points during Tuesday’s play-in game. The two-time All-Star went 5-of-12 from distance and made all 17 of his free throws to lead the Boston Celtics to a 118-100 win.
Tatum was lights-out in the most important game he’s played so far this season. He is now the all-time leading scorer in the short history of the NBA play-in tournament.
Here’s what the basketball world had to say about the first 50-point game in play-in history:
NBA reacts to Tatum’s 50-point game
Asked about his scoring blitz, Tatum revealed the motivation was not wanting to lose to Wizards star and childhood friend Bradley Beal.
Tuesday’s performance comes less than a month after Tatum used a career-high 60 points to power the Celtics to a 32-point comeback against the San Antonio Spurs, the third-biggest turnaround in NBA history.
With tonight’s win, Tatum and the 7-seeded Celtics have earned a spot in the 2021 NBA Playoffs. They’ll face the Brooklyn Nets in the first round in a best-of-seven series.