Duke basketball: Jayson Tatum puts on even better encore performance

Former Duke basketball standout Jayson Tatum plays for the Boston Celtics. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Former Duke basketball standout Jayson Tatum plays for the Boston Celtics. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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It was an encore performance for the ages for former Duke basketball standout Jayson Tatum as he led the Boston Celtics to victory once again.

Jayson Tatum put together a historic Game One performance in the Eastern Conference Playoffs for the Boston Celtics against the Philadelphia 76ers, and his Game Two was even better.

One day removed from being the youngest Boston Celtic to post 30 points and 10 rebounds in a playoff game, the All-Star went for 33 points, five rebounds, and five assists in Boston’s 128-101 victory over the 76ers to give the Celtics a 2-0 lead in the series.

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Tatum finished his night shooting 12-of-20 from the field and 8-of-12 from 3-point range and just 1-of-2 from the free throw line.

The former Blue Devil posted 32 points, 13 rebounds, and one assist in Boston’s Game One victory, but 10 of those points came from the free throw line.

Despite a serious ankle injury to wing Gordon Hayward, Tatum was able to step up and fill the void against a Philly team that is without star Ben Simmons, who suffered an injury in the restarted games that required him to leave the bubble for surgery.

While Tatum’s play stood above everyone else because of Boston’s winning effort, 76ers star Joel Embiid was the game’s leading scorer with 34 points on 11-of-21 shooting.

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As the series looks heavily tilted towards the Celtics’ favor, they still have to win two more games in order to advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals against either the defending champion Toronto Raptors or Brooklyn Nets, although Toronto holds a 2-0 lead in that series.

What does Jayson Tatum have in store for yet another encore performance?

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Well, we will have to find out on Friday, August 21 as Game Three tips off at 6:30pm EST as the game will be broadcasted on TNT.