Duke basketball: Jayson Tatum’s double-double leads Celtics to sweep
Former Duke basketball standout Jayson Tatum posted a double-double as the Boston Celtics completed the sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers.
It did not take long for the Boston Celtics to bounce the Philadelphia 76ers from the NBA bubble in Orlando, Florida, as the C’s wrapped up a four-game sweep of their rival on Sunday afternoon.
Former Blue Devil Jayson Tatum was arguably the best player on the floor for each of the four games, and Sunday was nothing different as he posted 28 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, one steal, and two blocks in Boston’s 110-106 victory.
Tatum shot 10-of-18 from the field in Game Four as well as 2-of-5 from 3-point territory and 6-of-10 from the free throw line.
ALSO READ: Duke superstar Jayson Tatum puts forth historic performance
As many in the basketball world were playing with a special type of motivation on Sunday as the late great Kobe Bryant would have been celebrating his 42nd birthday, Tatum honored the legend, and his mentor, with his pregame outfit as well as by wearing a purple armband throughout the game, in remembrance of Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers.
Happy birthday Mamba 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/HStXMYTpUm
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) August 23, 2020
https://twitter.com/celtics/status/1297622025486442497?s=20
In what was arguably Jayson Tatum’s best series in his young playoff career, the All-Star averaged 27.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.3 rebounds per game on a scorching 48.7 percent shooting from the field and 42.2 percent from 3-point range.
The future is now for the Boston Celtics as they not only have an All-Star on their hands with former Duke basketball one-and-done Jayson Tatum, but also a bonafide superstar in the NBA for many years to come.
ALSO READ: Jayson Tatum seals victory for Celtics with stellar defense
As the First Round of the NBA Playoffs continues to advance, the Celtics already have their next opponent set in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in the Toronto Raptors, as the defending NBA Champions are also are coming off of a four-game sweep of the short-handed Brooklyn Nets.
Game One between the Celtics and Raptors is scheduled for Thursday, August 27 at 6:30pm EST.