Behind the curtain of Jayson Tatum’s unbelievable finish in Celtics OT win over Timberwolves

BOSTON — Only a heads up: Joe Mazzulla shouldn’t be Jayson Tatum.

The Boston Celtics celebrity led his workforce to an unbelievable additional time win over the West-leading Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday evening, and he did it after an unsightly first half.

Tatum shot 2-of-7 within the first two quarters, together with 0-of-3 from contained in the three-point arc. Middys weren’t falling, layups weren’t falling, and the Celtics’ offense descended right into a sluggish state. The third quarter introduced a lot of the identical, as Minnesota took the lead heading into the fourth.

However by the tip of regulation, Tatum had fully taken over. He exploded for a 14-point fourth quarter, 11 of which got here within the remaining 6:23 of recreation time.

So, what did Mazzulla say to him to get him amped up? Was there an awe-inspiring speech? A reminder that he loves him? Any sort of screaming or hype-up message? Did Mazzulla merely inform Tatum to show it on, and he did?

“No,” stated Mazzulla. “I imply, he’s Jayson Tatum, I’m me. So, no.”

For Tatum and Mazzulla, it’s much less concerning the rowdy ramp-up. Tatum is aware of he’s a celebrity. Mazzulla is aware of it. Your complete metropolis of Boston is aware of it.

As an alternative, they’ve a continuing dialogue about perspective.

“It’s conversations all through the sport,” Mazzulla stated. “What’s going effectively? What’s not? The place can we enhance? Why are we in [the spot] we’re in? I believe what makes him nice is he is aware of when it’s his time and when he does must take over a recreation. So I didn’t essentially inform him I’ve to do this, however we’re continuously in communication concerning the perspective.

“What pitch ought to we throw? Ought to we display? Ought to we run off-ball? Must you pick-n-roll ball deal with? What’s the matchup that’s gonna give us one of the best benefit so that you can make a play for your self or your workforce?”

Picture by Maddie Meyer/Getty Photographs

With 3:35 to go within the fourth, the Timberwolves have been up 106-97, a nine-point lead that marked their largest of the sport. The Celtics introduced the ball down the courtroom, and Tatum had scored eight of their final 10 factors.

As Jrue Vacation attacked the paint, Tatum made a mad sprint to the rim, inflicting Jaden McDaniels to panic and comply with him. That was his man. However Tatum wasn’t going to attain. That’s not what the workforce wanted at that second.

As an alternative, he screened Naz Reid, who was sagging within the paint, leaving Al Horford wide-open for a nook three. Bucket. Celtics inside three.

“He had a few kick-outs, a few pin-ins for Al the place he obtained the nook three,” Mazzulla stated. “So once more, it’s simply not being outlined by one factor, and it’s dominating the sport by understanding how what pitch do I would like to make use of this quarter, this half, this recreation. And our guys are beginning to acknowledge that. I believed JT did an important job of that tonight.”

From there, the Celtics battled, at all times staying inside hanging distance of the Timberwolves. And beginning on the 2:01 mark, Tatum scored six of the Celtics’ final 9 factors.

Tatum almost sealed the deal on the buzzer in regulation, however the recreation went to additional time.

As soon as it did, Minnesota was cooked.

A Karl-Anthony Cities and-one was met with a Tatum transition-take-foul free throw and a subsequent bucket of his personal. After a pair of Minnesota triples and 4 Jaylen Brown free throws, it was all Tatum.

He baited Naz Reid right into a foolish foul earlier than torching Cities on a drive on the following possession. A Vacation steal instantly after led to a wide-open Tatum three in transition. He sunk it, and TD Backyard went ballistic.

Picture by Maddie Meyer/Getty Photographs

After beginning 2-of-7 within the first half, Tatum scored 18 of the Celtics’ final 25 factors and preserved their undefeated standing at dwelling.

Doubt by no means seeped into his thoughts. He was targeted on the subject he and Mazzulla cowl each evening: Sport administration.

“It’s an extended recreation. And each recreation presents completely different challenges,” Tatum stated. “It’s not at all times going to go the way in which you wish to. However simply discovering methods to sort of handle the sport and, and discovering your moments, and realizing when it’s time to be ultra-aggressive and take over, in a way. I simply sort of handle that all through the evening.”

Tatum noticed a few buckets drop within the third quarter. And as soon as he checked again in with 8:14 left within the recreation, they saved taking place. He was forming a rhythm. However that’s not what obtained him again on observe.

It was the determined willpower to win.

“Tonight was simply, man, discover a strategy to win,” Tatum stated. “That’s what I simply saved telling myself. Discover a strategy to win this recreation.”