MY ACCOUNT
Jayson Tatum said forcing a Game 7 in Boston “means everything” after he scored a game-high 46 points to carry his Boston Celtics to a 108-95 win in Game 6 against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Tatum shot 17-of-32 from the field and seven-of-15 from long-range for his 46, while Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo had 44 points and 20 rebounds, becoming the first player since Shaquille O’Neal over 20 years ago to put up 40-and-20 in a playoff game.
Unlike Antetokounmpo, Tatum had strong support from his teammates, with Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart combining for an efficient 43 points, while Al Horford collected team-highs in rebounds (10) and blocks (four).
After a disappointing Game 5 showing at home, Tatum told reporters post-game that the timid performance was lingering in their memories, determined not to make the same mistakes.
“[The Game 5 comeback] was in the back of our mind… it’s something we talked about,” he said.
“We felt they beat us on ‘winning’ plays – hustle plays, 50-50 balls – they were tougher than us in the fourth quarter of Game 5.
“I think just how much it stung – losing like that. Everyone had a bad taste in their mouth.
“That was in the back of my mind, it was in the back of everyone’s minds. Our season was on the line, we knew that, and we had to dig deep and give everything we had.
“[But] we were upbeat, we weren’t defeated – knowing we still had an opportunity to save our season by coming in here and getting a win, and we believed that, we truly did. We believed in each other, and I think that showed tonight.”
Touching on the Bucks and what makes them so good, Tatum emphasised their unity and cohesiveness, with everyone buying into their roles.
“They’re a great team,” he said. “I think everyone over there knows their role, and everyone is a star in their role – they compliment each other really well.
“They’re well-coached, they run great sets, and they’re not going to beat themselves. They’ve done it before, and we know that, so coming into the series we knew it wasn’t going to be easy – by no means – whoever wins was going to have to earn it.
“I was excited to play today – Game 6, you know, this is a big moment. For all of us, for myself and the team and how we would respond.
“Losing Game 5 was going to make us or break us, and I think we showed a lot of toughness and growth coming out here and getting a win on the road and giving ourselves a chance.”
Tatum was all smiles at the thought of Game 7 heading back to Boston, saying this is what competitors dream of.
“It means everything,” he said. “It’s the best atmosphere in the NBA, and Game 7s are the biggest and best games.
“I’m looking forward to it, truly… this is it, do or die.
“This is going to be fun – it’s supposed to be fun, it’s basketball.”
