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Duke in the NBA: Tatum, Redick open NBA season with a bang

By Kevin Connelly

BOSTON, MA - MAY 3: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics takes a shot against the Philadelphia 76ers during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Second Round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on May 3, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the 76ers 108-103. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MAY 3: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics takes a shot against the Philadelphia 76ers during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Second Round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on May 3, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the 76ers 108-103. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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There were two former Duke Basketball stars opened up the NBA regular season on Tuesday night in Boston.

It was a bit of two different big games for Boston Celtics young super star Jayson Tatum and the seasoned veteran on the Philadelphia 76ers, J.J. Redick.

With the departure of LeBron James from the Eastern Conference, the two teams that seem poised to take the reigns of the East are the Celtics and 76ers and the two teams met to kick off the NBA regular season.

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Tatum picked up right where he left off from last season where he led a short handed Celtics team to Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Duke product was in the starting lineup and dropped 23 points, pulled down nine rebounds, and dished out three assists, while grabbing one steal in Celtics 105-87 victory.

As for Tatum’s teammate and fellow former Duke star Kyrie Irving, he struggled in his first game back returning to the court after a knee injury caused him to miss the playoffs last season.

Irving only had seven points, making only two of his fourteen shots from the floor, but he did manage to dish out seven assists while totaling four rebounds.

As for the other side, J.J. Redick started his twelfth season in the NBA and he managed to score 16 points coming off the bench but he did play 30 minutes in the game as well as racking up two rebounds and one assist.

As this was only the first game of the grueling 82 game NBA season, these two teams should have some more great battles down the road and possibly into the playoffs.

As for the three Duke players in the game, they will continue to shine throughout the season in hopes of bringing an NBA Championship back to their respective city.

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