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\t\t\tJayson Tatum celebrates during the second half of the Celtics’ 108-100 win over the 76ers in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series on Friday in Philadelphia. (Matt Slocum\/Associated Press)<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJayson Tatum celebrates during the second half of the Celtics’ 108-100 win over the 76ers in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series on Friday in Philadelphia. (Matt Slocum\/Associated Press)<\/p>\n
PHILADELPHIA \u2014 Jayson Tatum let his final 3-pointer fly and the rip of the net could be heard on the other side of the court.<\/p>\n
Tatum pounded his chest in a pure adrenaline rush moment for the big bucket that quieted the crowd, crushed the hopes of a 76ers\u2019 late run, and was a crunch-time reminder that the six-time NBA All-Star is as close to elite as he was before a ruptured right Achilles tendon cost him the bulk of the regular season.<\/p>\n
Tatum cautioned after the Celtics beat the 76ers in Game 3 of their first-round series that, no, he\u2019s not 100% back in his recovery.<\/p>\n
Not yet, at least.<\/p>\n
He could have fooled the Sixers.<\/p>\n
With a little help from his longtime partner and fellow NBA champion Jaylen Brown, Tatum scored 25 points and played 42 minutes in the\u00a0Celtics\u2019 108-100 win\u00a0on Friday night for a 2-1 series lead. Tatum made 5 of 9 3-pointers and combined with Brown to score 19 of the Celtics\u2019 29 points in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt may not seem like it because I\u2019m back playing, but it was a very, very long time for me not to be doing what I love to do,\u201d Tatum said. \u201cI can\u2019t stress it enough, the fact that I just get to put my uniform on and run out there with the team is a win for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Boston had a pretty big win, too, and rebounded from a surprise Game 2 loss at home that injected a dose of confidence into All-Star Tyrese Maxey, rookie standout VJ Edgecombe to rip back home court in the series headed into Game 4 on Sunday in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n
Tatum returned for the final 16 games of the regular season and averaged 21.8 points and shot 41% from the floor. He scored 25 points in Boston\u2019s Game 1 rout and had 19 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists in the Game 2 loss.<\/p>\n
Celtics fans \u2014 Tatum raised his arm in celebration toward a small pocket of them near the visitor\u2019s tunnel \u2014 want Tatum to be Tatum, like, now. Especially if the Celtics are going to win a second NBA title under coach Joe Mazzulla. <\/p>\n
Mazzulla, Tatum and the Celtics know there\u2019s still a process to follow in this comeback and perfect health won\u2019t be found in the first round of the playoffs.<\/p>\n
Tatum was\u00a0carried off the floor\u00a0with a ruptured right Achilles tendon in Game 4 of the Celtics\u2019 Eastern Conference semifinals loss to the Knicks last season. Surgery the next day thrust him into a nearly 10-month rehab.<\/p>\n
It ended on March 6 with his season debut. Tatum hasn\u2019t said how close he is to 100% but \u2014 yeah, it\u2019s close.<\/p>\n
\u201cExpectations of what people want me to do is the last thing that has crossed my mind,\u201d Tatum said. \u201cThe amount of joy I\u2019ve been able to find, and being out there with my teammates is all I can think about.\u201d<\/p>\n
Philadelphia played again without center\u00a0Joel Embiid\u00a0for Game 3 as he continues to ease his way back into practice following an appendectomy on April 9.<\/p>\n
Maxey scored 31 points and teamed with Paul George and Edgecombe to keep the Sixers afloat in front of a raucous home crowd that included Allen Iverson and Julius Erving.<\/p>\n
Fans were already on their feet when the Sixers brought the ball down in the fourth and roared when Maxey hit 28-footer for an 85-84 lead.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/w2pcms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/04\/AP26115016143706.jpg\")
<\/a>Jayson Tatum, left, goes up for a shot against Philadelphia\u2019s Adem Bona during the first half of the Celtics\u2019 108-100 win in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Friday in Philadelphia. (Matt Slocum\/Associated Press)<\/p>\n