When they’re both healthy and right, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are arguably the best 1-2 punch in the NBA.
They proved that again on Wednesday night, leading the Boston Celtics to an impressive 147-129 road win over the Miami Heat.
Brown got going first, scoring the Celtics’ first 11 points and reaching 20 points by the end of the first quarter. He finished with 43 points, seven assists and three rebounds, bolstering his MVP case with his seventh 40-point game of the season.
It took Tatum a little longer to heat up, but when the dust settled he had a triple-double with 25 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists, falling one board shy of his career high.
Together, they combined for 68 points, 21 rebounds and 18 assists against a Heat team that ranked ninth in defensive rating coming in.
After the game, both superstars praised each other for their big night.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown discussed each other’s performance in the Celtics’ win over the Heat.
Brown: “He almost had 20 boards tonight, which is exceptional…Him being who he is, is gonna help us be a better team.”
Tatum also discussed Brown stepping up in his absence.
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— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) April 2, 2026
“He almost had 20 boards tonight, which is exceptional,” Brown said of Tatum. “Him being who he is, is gonna help us be a better team.”
Meanwhile, Tatum praised Brown for stepping up in his absence this season.
“I thought it was special. Obviously, someone that’s always been capable,” Tatum said. “A lot of times, the NBA is about opportunity, and guys really make the most out of the special ones, and that’s exactly what he’s been able to do this year.”
When Brown and Tatum are both on top of their game, Boston is incredibly hard to beat. Brown’s been playing at an MVP level all year, and now Tatum is starting to join him.
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