Skip to content

Kemba: Tatum was 'best player on the court' in win over Clippers

MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images / MediaNews Group / Getty

In a matchup that featured the likes of Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum shined the brightest.

The third-year Boston Celtics star finished with 39 points and nine rebounds in his team's double-overtime victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday - a performance that saw Tatum draw high praise from his fellow Celtics All-Star.

"(Tatum) was the best player on the court tonight," Walker told ESPN's Tim Bontemps postgame.

"He was incredible," Walker added. "He made every right play. He made every big shot."

The 21-year-old Tatum acknowledged that competing against some of the league's elite players served as a personal motivator.

"Any time you get a chance to play against guys you look up to, or arguably are the best guys in the league, it definitely kind of raises your level of play," he said.

The former Duke product's leap in Year 3 is a big reason why the Celtics sit third in the Eastern Conference entering the All-Star break. Tatum has significantly increased his scoring production this season, pouring in a career-best 22.4 points per game. That number has jumped to 27.3 points over his last eight contests, with Boston winning seven of them.

The Celtics are now 38-16 this season, just 1 1/2 games back of the Toronto Raptors for the East's second seed.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox