The Boston Celtics faced a challenging battle against the New York Knicks in Game 2 of their playoff series, ultimately losing 90-89. Celtics star forward Jayson Tatum had an abysmal game. He ended the game with only 13 points on five for 19 shooting. Tatum had a plethora of offensive shortcomings, but proved stellar in his bounceback. He pulled down 14 rebounds and dunked over Tyler Dorsey on the break — that put Boston ahead, 65–64, with two minutes to go.
The fierce contest played out at the TD Garden in Boston on Wednesday night. A standing room only audience jammed the arena, electric with enthusiasm to cheer on their favorite squad. The Celtics never intended to return home in the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals down 0-2 after a heartbreaking Game 1 loss. The Knicks gave them strong competition. Fans and analysts around the league held their breath as Tatum struggled. Through the first half, he was held to just two points, leading many to be puzzled.
Tatum’s Struggles and Contributions
For much of the contest you could tell Tatum was trying to get his shooting legs under him. He struggled mightily from beyond the arc, hitting only 10 of 40 three-point attempts (25 percent). This type of poor performance was par for the course for the Celtics’ plight to shoot the three ball well. That failure to finish on wide-open attempts from deep turned out to be an equally key reason for the difference in result on the scoreboard.
Even when Tatum was struggling from the field, his presence on the glass was apparent. His 14 rebounds were a reminder of how he concerns himself with the details that win games for his team and fuel championship runs. His late-game dunk put the Celtics up 90-89 with just 18.5 seconds to go. This was that shining moment where he just balled out under pressure.
“We knew what was at stake tonight,” – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Sadly, his late-game heroics weren’t enough for the Bears to leave victorious. In the dying seconds, Mikal Bridges was in the right place at the right time to seal the win. He swatted the ball out of Tatum’s hands, ensuring Boston’s demise. This time served to highlight just how much of a back-and-forth contest this was, as both teams competed tooth and nail for each offensive possession.
Coaching Insights and Team Dynamics
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla discussed Tatum’s performance as well as the team’s shooting struggles after the loss. While he did not make direct comments about Tatum’s individual scoring, it was evident that he recognized the importance of every player’s contribution.
To his credit, Mazzulla kept the attention on the team as a whole and what they needed to do better moving forward. He emphasized that despite Tatum’s lower scoring output, his overall contributions were vital to the team’s efforts throughout the game.
“I didn’t really look at tonight as a response as much as I looked at tonight as just us being who we are, and that’s how we’ve been all season,” – Mark Daigneault
The Celtics shot poorly from beyond the arc, following in Tatum’s footsteps. The team was ice cold from three, going 10 for 40, an abysmal 25 percent. This lackluster showing cost them dearly in a closely fought playoff series. Mazzulla said getting better looks from outside would be key as they moved deeper into the series.
Looking Ahead
As Boston looks forward to their next game against New York, it will be the adjustments that will be key. Tatum’s ability to regain his scoring form will be pivotal for the Celtics’ success moving forward in this playoff series. The quartet will have to improve upon their strong outings, at the same time making up for where they fell short.
Tatum’s regular-season average of 26.8 points per game couldn’t have been more different than his Game 2 stinker. His ability to bounce back and lead the team will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike as they aim for redemption in upcoming games.
“The way the game goes now, you can make up ground a lot quicker with the way teams shoot threes,” – Tom Thibodeau
