The Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors met on Thursday night in a rematch of the 2022 NBA Finals.
The game marked the second meeting between the two teams this season after Golden State beat Boston 123-107 in December.
On Thursday, the Celtics were hungry for some revenge, and they got it, beating the Warriors 121-118 in overtime.
Jayson Tatum had a complicated performance — he was inefficient and committed some big turnovers — but in the end, he totaled 34 points, 19 rebounds, six assists, and three steals.
In the process, he hit a pretty cool milestone, reaching 9,000 career points before even turning 25 years of age.
Jayson Tatum has reached 9,000 career points.
He is the 10th player in NBA history to reach 9,000 points before the age of 25. pic.twitter.com/aNsa9oMf5I
— Celtics Junkies (@Celtics_Junkies) January 20, 2023
The 24-year-old is having a fantastic 2022-23 season, and his squad holds the best record in the NBA at 34-12.
A Statement Win
Tatum’s performance on Thursday certainly wasn’t his best, but it had to feel good for him to help his team get a victory over the Warriors.
The three-time All-Star didn’t play well in the 2022 NBA Finals against Golden State, and the Warriors took advantage of his struggles en route to a 4-2 series win.
Thursday’s game was a big one for the Celtics from a psychological standpoint, as they avoided getting swept by the Warriors in the 2022-23 regular season.
The two teams won’t meet again this season unless they both end up back in the NBA Finals.
That’s certainly a possibility, and if it happens, fans can be sure that the Celtics will be motivated to give the Warriors a taste of their own medicine after Golden State broke Boston’s heart in 2022.
