Less than one year ago, Jayson Tatum went down with an Achilles injury that took him out of the playoffs for the Boston Celtics. On Friday night, Tatum hit a dagger against the Philadelphia 76ers to steal Game 3 on the road in the playoffs.
“First playoff road game I’ve been in since I got injured,” Tatum said on Friday.
“You know, just the environment, circumstances of being tied 1-1, knowing what’s on the line, and just being in a position to kind of seal the game. As a competitor, as a basketball player, you just see those emotions come out in those moments.”
Tatum was fired up in front of a Philly crowd that was silenced. Although the Joel Embiid-less 76ers put up a great fight after they picked up a shocking Game 2 win on the road in Boston, Tatum put them down with a shot that not many stars in the league can take and make in that moment.
“I think just off the initial shot with [Nikola Vucevic], the play had started when [Derrick White] made a hell of a play in the offensive rebound. That was big. We just kind of got our space and found a matchup that we wanted and attacked,” Tatum said, reflecting on the play.
The Sixers Give Tatum A Memory That Will Last
GettyBOSTON, MA – APRIL 19: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics shows off his jersey before Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden on April 19, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
A lack of execution in the final minute for the Sixers surely caused them to drop the ball. The second-seeded Celtics made the 76ers pay.
Tatum was searching for a critical playoff moment to ignite him, and he got one at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Friday.
“I just missed being a part of moments like that, where it’s a back-and-forth game,” Tatum admitted after the game. “Sometimes, we had some moments where things didn’t go our way, and then we had to fight back and get the lead, and it was just a figure it out type of game and make winning plays.”
Tatum checked in for 42 minutes on Friday night. He shot 9-17 from the field and made 5-9 shots from beyond the arc.
The veteran forward also contributed five rebounds, seven assists, and one steal.
When Could The 76ers Bounce Back?
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – MARCH 3: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on against the San Antonio Spurs in the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 3, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
With Tatum getting that big moment out, the 76ers will have to make sure they don’t go back to Boston empty-handed.
On Sunday, the two teams will meet for a Game 4 battle. It’s unclear if the 76ers will get a Joel Embiid boost or not, but either way, they need to take care of business if they want to keep the series alive.