Jayson Tatum absolutely put on a masterclass in Charlotte on Friday night, leading the Boston Celtics to a dominant 119-80 NBA Cup win over the Hornets. But it wasn’t just the 34 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists that had everyone buzzing, it was Tatum’s frank admission after the game: “It definitely feels like home.”
Tatum’s Third-Quarter Timeout After a Dominant Start
Tatum started painting his latest masterpiece early, showing why he is one of the league’s top talents. He was a force from the jump, scoring or assisting on a ridiculous 30 of the Celtics’ first 40 points in the opening quarter. That’s not just good, that’s franchise history good, tying Paul Pierce for the most 15-point first quarters with 106, according to ESPN Insights. By halftime, he had already dropped 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting, including an insane 5-of-8 from deep. Think about that for a second: he hit more threes in just two quarters than he had in his *three previous games combined*.
The damage was done. With the Celtics holding a massive 96-57 runaway lead after three quarters, head coach Joe Mazzulla didn’t even need Tatum on the court for the fourth. He was checked out, getting some much-deserved rest while reserves like Luka Garza, Mike Conley, and Ron Harper Jr. got their reps in. Imagine being so good, you don’t even get to chase your career-high 60 points because the game is already over. Tatum finished with 34 points, eight boards, and nine assists, falling just a hair shy of his first triple-double of the season. What a night.
“MVP” Chants in the Hornets’ House? Yeah, That Happened
What’s wild is how much the Spectrum Center felt like a home game for the Celtics. Chants of “Let’s go Celtics” were filling the arena, so much so that the Hornets tried to drown them out by cranking up their signature buzzing sound effect. It didn’t work. When Tatum stepped to the free-throw line in the third quarter, he was greeted by a chorus of loud “MVP” chants. You know you’re doing something right when the opposing team’s arena is calling for your MVP.
Tatum himself confessed after the game, per CLNS Media, that Charlotte “definitely feels like home.” He backed that up with some personal history, explaining his deep ties to North Carolina. He said, “I have a lot of connections here in this state, this area.” He spent “a little under a year” there as an 18-year-old, his first time truly away from home, building relationships and connecting with Duke. He loves coming back, seeing a lot of Celtics and Duke fans, always a good time. It totally makes sense now why he always seems to light up this arena. Throughout his career, Tatum has consistently flipped the switch in Charlotte, averaging 29.9 points and eight rebounds. This wasn’t a fluke; it’s a pattern.
This kind of performance, with Tatum feeling that comfortable on the road and leading his team to such a dominant victory, shows just how locked in he is this early in the season. You’ve gotta think other teams are watching this dude, seeing him almost get a triple-double and get pulled after three quarters, and realizing the full force of what the Celtics can do.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
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