It isn’t very often when you have actualy royalty (as opposed to the King James variety) on the sidelines of an NBA game, but even with the Prince and Princess of Wales in attendance of the Boston Celtics’ 134-121 home win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night at TD Garden, star Celtics forward Jayson Tatum managed to steal the show.
Perhaps in his own bid to be declared king (of the NBA), the St. Louis native led the charge against a determined if banged-up Heat squad on his way to a 49-point, 11-rebound performance for the ages that gave everyone in the arena (Windsor family included) something to remember.
Let’s take a look at how Celtics and NBA Twitter reacted.
First quarter
The Celtics should always be nervous with Middleton in the building
— Brendan Sweeney (@brendansweeney) December 1, 2022
Zones…don't seem to be a problem anymore for Boston
— Dr. Justin Quinn (@justinquinnn) December 1, 2022
So…this is VERY high praise, but the way the Celtics move the ball is reminiscent of the way the Bird teams used to move the ball.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) December 1, 2022
The Celtics are off to a balanced attack of the Heat, with four of the five starters scoring. And the lone player without a point is Al Horford who has a pair of assists.
— A. Sherrod Blakely (@ASherrodblakely) December 1, 2022
Marcus is a 40% three point shooter now. Time to accept it
— Dan Greenberg (@StoolGreenie) December 1, 2022
It's nice of the NBA's most regal franchise to grant them an audience. https://t.co/PeimlyHnCB
— Mike Dynon ☘️🏀 (@MikeDynon) December 1, 2022
.@MayorWu, @maura_healey, and @KensingtonRoyal sitting court side at the Celtics game along with Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck and wife Emilia Fazzalari
Celtics great Satch Sanders sitting right behind them as part of the broader entourage pic.twitter.com/XEE5I7CDjv
— Cameron Tabatabaie (@CTabatabaie) December 1, 2022
Anyone who has ever watched the Heat knows that they weren't going to let an early Celtics run get to them
Boston needs to keep playing the right way
— Jack Simone (@JackSimoneNBA) December 1, 2022
The Royals are here and Joe Mazzulla just called an early timeout. What is going on?!?!
— Abby Chin (@tvabby) December 1, 2022
If you're the Heat, you can't allow Haslem to end up on Tatum, even if it's in the corner. The result is a baseline drive, beating the help defender, too, and Tatum getting two points at the cup.
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) December 1, 2022
The Celtics regain their lead before the end of Q1. They're shooting 66.7% from the floor, 9/15 from 3 & are leading the Heat 38-35
— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) December 1, 2022
Second quarter
Is ANY Celtic not shooting well this season. Any of them. At all https://t.co/gk7UPO7AcA
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) December 1, 2022
Sam Hauser really wanted to drain that 3-pointer in Tyler Herro's face.
I felt it & he rushed it but it's still early
— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) December 1, 2022
Jayson Tatum literally rolls out of bed and drops 20pts #bleedgreen
— Amina Smith (@aminajadeTV) December 1, 2022
Underrated aspect of the Brogdon acquisition; the man knows how to attack a zone.
— First To The Floor☘️ (@First2TheFloor) December 1, 2022
Smattering of boos amid mostly cheers as the Prince and Princess of Wales are announced to the TD Garden crowd
— Cameron Tabatabaie (@CTabatabaie) December 1, 2022
If this game stays close, Jayson Tatum may drop 60. #Celtics
— Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) December 1, 2022
Royal family approves ✅ pic.twitter.com/oFEh2mMeAF
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) December 1, 2022
“Yes, sir, he jumps like that even though the player shooting is quite far away.” pic.twitter.com/eIotEyh2HC
— Taco Trey Kerby (@treykerby) December 1, 2022
Shocked that Celtics didn't hit 70 by halftime again, but regardless, can't give up 60.
— Mike Dynon ☘️🏀 (@MikeDynon) December 1, 2022
Third quarter
Jaylen Brown picks up his fourth foul on Boston's first possession of the second half. Grant Williams checks in for him.
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) December 1, 2022
A night at TD Garden 🍀🔥 pic.twitter.com/YxdY4Wv6ko
— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) December 1, 2022
@MikeDynon @tvabby Does Prince William knows who he is sitting next to? I do! pic.twitter.com/sNvJV3OaM7
— Harry Mann jr. (@HarryMannjr1) December 1, 2022
Good help defense by Tatum, peeling off his matchup to cut off Tyler Herro's drive, resulting in the latter missing a mid-range fadeaway jumper.
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) December 1, 2022
JT is going THROUGH these dudes this season man. And that has led to him taking the next step in his domination of the league.
— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) December 1, 2022
Pretty sure Smart fouled Adebayo but Strus went to the line instead? No?
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) December 1, 2022
Jayson Tatum has Prince William’s jaw on the floor
— Kylie Cheung (@kylietcheung) December 1, 2022
OK, need Sam Hauser to hit a couple of 3s ASAP to help me forget that former Celtic Max Strus has made 5 of 6 this quarter.
— Mike Dynon ☘️🏀 (@MikeDynon) December 1, 2022
Fourth quarter
Three turnovers in a minute and a half for Boston to open Q4.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) December 1, 2022
We really can’t do anything without Jayson tonight
— Ryan Bernardoni (@dangercart) December 1, 2022
Tatum up off the bench to give Jaylen some words of encouragement.
— John Zannis (@John_Zannis) December 1, 2022
Malcolm Brogdon is a tremendous zone breaker.
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) December 1, 2022
Tatum was at the scorer's table, Mazzulla sent him back, but after Lowry's and-one, he enters the game. Celtics lead 116-113 with about six minutes remaining.
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) December 1, 2022
That was a heck of a dunk from Jaylen Brown.
— Trevor Hass (@TrevorHass) December 1, 2022
47 points… Tatum's going offff https://t.co/3McVTD2zBL
— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) December 1, 2022
Yo make Jayson Tatum the Prince of Wales
— Cameron Tabatabaie (@CTabatabaie) December 1, 2022
It's the "Jayson Tatum Puts Up 50 and Gets Knighted" Challenge
— Tommy Heinsohn Has A Posse (@csl_duke) December 1, 2022
Adebayo just got tossed, Tatum will get two tech FTs. He would need another point after that in the final 24 seconds. #Celtics #Heat
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) December 1, 2022
Tatum shakes off Smart on the final possession, he'll live with a 49-point, 11 rebound night.
The Celtics were +29 with him in the game, -16 when he was out.
Boston now 18-4, best record in the NBA, they've won 14 of 15 and 10 straight at home. pic.twitter.com/ijYRuh9YzK
— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) December 1, 2022
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