Boston Celtics forward and top MVP candidate Jayson Tatum in 2016. He is the first player to score 40 points in a Christmas Day game since Kyrie Irving in 2018. Four years ago, Irving scored 40 points and 10 rebounds against the Philadelphia 76ers in Boston.
On Sunday, Tatum finished with 41 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals in 36 minutes. Additionally, he shot 14-of-22 (63.6%) from the field and 3-of-7 (42.9%) from beyond the arc. It was his sixth 40-point game of the season. Wilt Chamberlain had 271 games with 40-plus points, the most in NBA history.
According to a few NBA betting sites, Jayson Tatum remains the favorite to win the MVP in 2023. See which sportsbooks are still projecting big chances for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic.
Jayson Tatum today:
41 PTS
7 REB
5 AST
3 STLFirst 40-point game on Christmas by any player since 2018. pic.twitter.com/xy5P1F9Kjp
— StatMuse (@statmuse) December 26, 2022
“I’m not trying to prove that I’m as good as somebody else,” Jayson Tatum said after the win. “Unless we come back and win, there’s nothing else that makes me happy. [the Finals]He said.
At 24 years, 297 days old, Tatum is the youngest player to score 40 points on Christmas Day since Kevin Durant in 2010 (22 years, 87 days). In the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 114-106 win over the Denver Nuggets, Durant finished with 44 points on 14-of-20 (70%) shooting from the field and four 3-pointers.
Celtics forward Jayson Tatum is the first player since Kyrie Irving to score 40 points on Christmas Day in 2018.
In 33 starts this season, the Celtics wing is averaging a career-high 30.9 points and 8.1 boards. The three-time all-star is averaging 4.1 assists and 1.2 steals while shooting 35.6% from 3-point range and a career-best 47.7% from the floor.
On another important side note, Jayson Tatum has outscored six MVP candidates in head-to-head matchups this season. These players include Joel Embiid, Ja Morant, Nikola Jokic, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Looks like MVP @jaytatum0 🤩 pic.twitter.com/QTv9jgTYGJ
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) December 26, 2022
In the year On November 30, in the Celtics’ 134-121 win over the Miami Heat, the forward scored a season-high 49 points in 40 minutes. He finished 15-of-25 (60%) shooting from the field and an impressive 8-of-12 (66.7%) from beyond the arc. In the 2020-21 season, Jayson Tatum scored a career high 61 points with the San Antonio Spurs.
Also, with a total of three, Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady holds the record for most 40-point games on Christmas Day. McGrady retired as a seven-time All-Star, two-time scoring champion and seven-time All-NBA member. Despite winning a ring, the guard/forward always seems to play well in important games.
