Chowder and Champions
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Boston Celtics continue to toy with fans’ emotions

By Jason Haskins

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 30: Tristan Thompson #13 of the Boston Celtics celebrates with Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics after the Celtics defeated the San Antonio Spurs at TD Garden on April 30, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 30: Tristan Thompson #13 of the Boston Celtics celebrates with Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics after the Celtics defeated the San Antonio Spurs at TD Garden on April 30, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images) /
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Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics Jayson Tatum and Tristan Thompson. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images) /

The regular season of the 2020-21 NBA season is close to reaching its climax and the Boston Celtics have mastered the art of giving hope and taking it all away. Or taking away hope and finding ways to restore it.

This is how their season has played out. It happens on a weekly basis and, on Friday night against the San Antonio Spurs, Boston performed it to perfection within the four quarters of a game.

Down 32 at one point in the second quarter, the Celtics looked like a team about to go 1-3 on the week and move one step closer to the NBA play-in tournament.

Then the resiliency of the Celtics kicked in as Boston toyed with the despondent fans once more, delivering a historic comeback in a 143-140 overtime victory over the Spurs.

Another .500 week in the books and memories of a recent six-game winning streak slowly fading from the mind. Injuries continued to plague the Celtics last week, keeping them from performing as one healthy and cohesive unit.

It was a week, however, that was salvaged by the special play of skyrocketing star.

Boston Celtics: The Jayson Tatum experience

Jayson Tatum missed one game last week.

He more than made up for it with a performance of a lifetime against the Spurs.

Tatum was basically a one-man show for the Celtics through the game’s 15 minutes. Keeping Boston “in the game” could be a vast understatement, considering how far the Celtics fell behind.

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But it was enough. And then he poured it on the second half as the rest of the team woke up, too. Tatum worked his way to the 60-point mark, tying Larry Bird for the single-game franchise record, one that had stood for 36 years.

Tatum’s play exemplified everything he’d been doing right as of late. In three games last week, Tatum averaged 38 points and 9 rebounds per game. He also had eight assists in a victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

The 60-spot he dropped against the Spurs also punctuated a fantastic April from Tatum in which he averaged 29.7 points per game. Tatum also pulled down 9.1 rebounds and dished out 4.5 assists per game, collecting eight double-doubles, including such an occurrence in five straight, and one triple-double.

Tatum is going all-out and, while the results have been mixed, certain teammates have risen to that same task as well.

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