Tatum’s Historic Game 7 Performance Sends Celtics Soaring into Eastern Conference Finals
BOSTON — Ahead of Sunday afternoon’s pivotal game, Jaylen Brown took to his public platform to convey a resounding message to the passionate Celtics fans: “Get loud!” Brown felt that the energy at TD Garden during the team’s N.B.A. Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Philadelphia 76ers had been lackluster at best.
His call was answered in spectacular fashion as the atmosphere in the arena reached a fever pitch for Game 7. The crowd erupted with deafening roars, celebrating every thunderous dunk, scintillating 3-pointer, tenacious defensive stop, and crucial offensive rebound.
As the fourth quarter neared its end, Jayson Tatum, amidst a breathtaking display and the best game of his career, stood near the center circle, urging the fans to crank up the volume even further. And they responded with an outpouring of noise, their cheers still reverberating as the Celtics sealed a commanding 112-88 victory, clinching the best-of-seven series and keeping their championship dreams alive.
Tatum, a first-team All-N.B.A. selection, who hadn’t been flawless throughout the series, showcased an extraordinary performance on Sunday, notching an unprecedented 51 points in a Game 7, etching his name into the annals of N.B.A. history. Brown contributed 25 points to the triumph, and the Celtics commanded a lead as imposing as 30 points.
“When I’m having fun, that’s when I’m at my best,” Tatum proclaimed, reminiscing about his childhood passion for the game. “When you step on that court and let loose, recalling those days playing at the Y.M.C.A., the game opens up in front of you.”
The crushing defeat will undoubtedly cast a shadow of uncertainty over the future of the third-seeded 76ers, a team that harbored championship aspirations of its own. However, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, who recently secured his first N.B.A. Most Valuable Player Award, struggled to find his rhythm in Game 7, mustering just 15 points while shooting a disappointing 5 of 18 from the field. Sixers guard James Harden fared even worse, contributing a mere 9 points.
“They are undoubtedly the best team in the league,” acknowledged Embiid in praise of the Celtics. “They possess immense talent and a multitude of players who can excel in every facet of basketball. Although we fell short after a hard-fought seven-game series, I believe we gave it our all.”
The Celtics, seeded second in the East, put the game out of reach with a scorching third-quarter run, highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers from the hands of Brown and Tatum. The final quarter turned into a celebratory extravaganza, masquerading as the culmination of an intensely contested playoff series.
“When J.T. performs at that level, we become an unstoppable force,” Brown declared with admiration for Tatum’s brilliance.
In securing their spot, the Celtics set up a showdown with the formidable Miami Heat, the eighth-seeded underdogs who have been wreaking havoc in the postseason. The Eastern Conference finals will commence in Boston on Wednesday. The Heat, after surviving the play-in bracket, vanquished the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round and eliminated the Knicks in six games during their conference semifinal series. Boston, on the other hand, triumphed over the seventh-seeded Atlanta Hawks in six games during the first round.
The Heat boast their own shining star in Jimmy Butler, a player who consistently elevates his performance during the playoffs—a formidable force on both ends of the court, rarely experiencing an off night.
The Celtics possess their explosive superstar in Tatum, who, despite encountering difficulties against the 76ers, emerged as the brightest star in the building on Sunday. His shooting was nothing short of remarkable, going 17 of 28 from the field and draining 6 of 10 from beyond the arc. Tatum’s dominance extended beyond scoring, as he grabbed 13 rebounds and dished out five assists, showcasing his versatility and impact on the game.
The Celtics’ triumph over the 76ers will undoubtedly leave a lasting sting for Philadelphia, who had a golden opportunity to close out the series on their home court with a 3-2 lead. However, Tatum’s heroics in Game 6, where he overcame a challenging shooting start to lead his team to a crucial victory, breathed new life into Boston’s playoff aspirations.
Game 7s hold immense significance, and this one was no exception. For the Celtics, a loss would have represented a sharp regression from their achievements in the previous season, when they made it to the N.B.A. finals before succumbing to the Golden State Warriors in a hard-fought six-game series.
Yet progress in the world of sports is rarely linear, and the Celtics encountered an unusually tumultuous path this season. An unexpected coaching change prior to training camp, the absence of Danilo Gallinari due to a season-ending injury before he even stepped foot on the court, and a defense that lacked its characteristic vigor all presented formidable challenges along the way.
On the other side, the 76ers faced mounting pressure, as their entire team-building strategy, known as “the Process,” came under scrutiny. The Process, anchored by the acquisition of Joel Embiid in the 2014 N.B.A. draft, was designed to propel the team to deep playoff runs. However, with their hopes shattered once again, the 76ers find themselves mired in the disappointment of yet another postseason exit without reaching the conference finals.
Doc Rivers, the coach of the 76ers, acknowledged the weight of the moment and the need for his key players to push themselves to their limits, anticipating a battle that would test their mettle and determination.
Embiid, in his quiet moments before tip-off, dribbled near the halfcourt circle, mentally preparing himself for the challenge that lay ahead. However, the remainder of his afternoon proved to be a grim affair, marred by missed shots and an inability to find his rhythm. Harden, too, struggled to make his presence felt, failing to make a significant impact on the game.
Throughout the series, there was a stark inconsistency in performances, and none exemplified this more than Harden himself. From his explosive 45-point outburst in Game 1 to his subsequent disappearance in the following games, shooting a combined 5 of 28 from the field, Harden’s contributions were as unpredictable as the ebb and flow of the series itself. It begged the question of which version of Harden would show up for the decisive Game 7.
Early in the second quarter, Harden appeared to be laboring, losing control of the ball while attempting a layup. In a moment of frustration, he swung an elbow that unintentionally caught Brown in the face. The flagrant foul call against Harden proved to be a turning point in the game, as the 76ers never quite regained their footing.
The Celtics, fueled by their passionate fanbase and a relentless pursuit of victory, continued to build momentum. Brown, undeterred by the collision, soldiered on, playing with a cotton swab inserted into his nostril to stem the bleeding. Even a tumble in front of the opposing bench, with the 76ers’ Georges Niang reaching out to grab his leg, failed to break his resolve. Technical fouls were assessed
