Duke basketball superstar sets NBA records in dazzling performance

Former Duke basketball standout Jayson Tatum set an NBA record in the Play-In Tournament. 

The star of the NBA Play-In Tournament is very clear as former Duke basketball star Jayson Tatum went for 50 points against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night.

Tatum dominated the second half as the limping Boston Celtics fell into the Play-In Round after struggling in the last two months of the regular season.

In the 118-100 victory for Boston, the former Blue Devil was 14-of-32 from the floor, 5-of-12 from 3-point range, and a perfect 17-of-17 from the free throw line in addition to his eight rebounds, four assists, one steal, and two blocks.

Tatum only committed one foul and two turnovers while leading the team in +/- rating with a +25 in 41 minutes of action.

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Jayson Tatum quickly became the first player ever to score 50 points in the NBA Play-In Tournament as well as the event’s leading scorer.

In his fourth season with the Celtics, Tatum set career-highs in points per game (26.4), rebounds per game (7.4), assists per game (4.3), and free throw percentage (86.8).

Tuesday night was also the third time Jayson Tatum scored at least 50 points in a game this season, the most of any player in the NBA this year.

Tatum’s previous career-high was 60 points, which he set this season in an overtime win against the San Antonio Spurs on April 30.

Duke basketball star in trouble going forward?

After an incredible performance where Jayson Tatum dominated all of the headlines, what’s his reward?

A seven-game series against Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, James Harden, and the Brooklyn Nets.

Congrats, Jayson!

The Celtics are officially the No. 7 seed the Brooklyn awaits as the No. 2, and while the basketball world sees if anyone can knock off the NBA Championship favorites, Boston head coach Brad Stevens doesn’t think so.

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“We’ll do our best to get ready for Brooklyn. They’re the best of the best. As a fan of the NBA, it’s hard to see those guys losing. We’re going to have to play great and play great together,” Stevens told the media after the victory.

Not exactly a Herb Brooks-esque pre-series speech, but we’ll see what happens, right?

Boston and Brooklyn are scheduled to begin their series on Saturday, May 22 at 8:00pm EST (ABC).