The Celtics won on Thursday, 119-104, their fifth victory in the last six games. They moved up to third in the East standings. It was helpful that new All-Star Jayson Tatum returned from his groin injury.
1. Five players = 97 points
The Celtics’ best five players currently average a combined 93.1 points per game. Last night, they went for 97.
Hayward, 25 points on 8-of-15 shooting
Tatum, 20 on 7-of-14
Brown, 18 on 6-of-13
Walker, 13 on 5-of-13
Smart, 21 on 8-of-16
That is some potent offense, coming within one Jaylen hoop of having four 20-point scorers in the same game, on balanced shot distribution.