Jayson Tatum’s Controversial Buzzer-Beater Lifts Boston Celtics to Victory

The Boston Celtics narrowly secured an overtime win against the Toronto Raptors on Saturday, highlighted by a last-second three-point shot from star forward Jayson Tatum. The game ended with a score of 126-123 in favor of Boston, with Tatum redeeming himself after missing a crucial shot in regulation that could have decided the game earlier.

Reflecting on the missed opportunity, Tatum commented, «Obviously, after the horrible miss I had at the end of regulation, it felt good to bounce back and hit the shot for the win.» His resilience has been a testament to his evolving mindset, which has greatly contributed to the Celtics’ success, including their previous NBA title and current championship aspirations.

Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla discussed Tatum’s determination, stating, «I really just remind him of the work he puts in every day. More times than not, more people miss game winners than they make them. He has the work ethic and mental toughness to work through all those things.» Tatum concluded the game with an impressive performance, scoring 24 points, along with 11 rebounds and nine assists.

The victory came despite the absence of key player Jrue Holiday, who did not participate in the match, necessitating that others rise to the occasion. With a current record of 11-3, the Boston Celtics have positioned themselves as strong contenders in the league, and Tatum’s continued strong performances could potentially place him in the MVP conversation.

However, reports surfaced following the game, pointing out that Tatum’s decisive shot was marred by a missed traveling violation. According to the NBA’s assessment released on Sunday, Tatum moved his pivot foot with 3.4 seconds remaining in overtime, a call that went unnoticed by the officials.

Additionally, the NBA report highlighted another missed call during the final moments, where Toronto’s player was not called for a foul against Boston’s Jaylen Brown with seven seconds to go, which would have sent Brown to the free-throw line. Despite these officiating errors, play continued and Tatum’s shot secured the win as the game clock expired.