Duke basketball: Jayson Tatum bests Steph Curry in Saturday night classic

Duke basketball star Jayson Tatum bested Steph Curry in a Saturday night classic. 

The NBA Saturday Night Showcase games have been delivering of late, and the most recent classic was due to the play of a former Duke basketball superstar.

Jayson Tatum and Steph Curry took center stage in Boston as the two All-Stars went for over 40 points apiece in the Celtics’ (31-26) victory over the Golden State Warriors (28-29), 119-114.

Tatum dropped 44 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and two steals on 16-of-25 shooting from the field and 5-of-9 from 3-point range.

Curry exploded for 47 points, seven rebounds, and three assists on 15-of-27 shooting from the floor and 11-of-19 from beyond the arc.

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After trailing by six with 4:10 to play, Tatum brought the Celtics to within a point, 109-108, in just over a minute with a 3-pointer. He then gave Boston the lead with a beautiful step-through layup with 48 seconds to go.

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The former Blue Devil then put the finishing touches on the comeback victory with two clutch free throws to push the lead to two possessions, 118-114, with 13 seconds remaining in regulation.

Jayson Tatum is a game removed from showing off his clutch abilities in a one-point victory over the Portland Trail Blazers (32-23) while also opening up about his lingering effects from his COVID-19 diagnosis as he still uses an inhaler before each game to open up his lungs.

Tatum said he is still not fully recovered from the illness but continues to progress each day.

Another Duke basketball standout provides great minutes

Jayson Tatum was not the only former Blue Devil to take the floor for the Boston Celtics on Saturday night as Jabari Parker made his team debut.

Parker was waived by the Sacramento Kings last month and officially signed with the Celtics on Friday.

Jabari Parker was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft but has now been relegated to a reserve role after sustaining multiple knee injuries throughout his professional career.

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However, after only scoring a total of eight points with the Kings this season over the course of three games, Parker posted 11 points in 16 minutes in his first game since March 15 on 5-of-6 shooting.

Boston has now won six games in a row and sits as the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Celtics close out their three-game homestand against the Chicago Bulls (23-33) on Monday, April 19 at 7:30pm EST and then against the Phoenix Suns (40-16) on Thursday, April 22.