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PHILADELPHIA — Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said Tuesday night that words are not that big of a deal for Jayson Tatum, after Tatum scored 21 points in a 123-101 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in his first game against Jaylen Brown since the July trade.
“They’re just words. They’re not like his life’s threatened. There’s no weapons. No one’s throwing anything at him. No one’s attacking him,” Mazzulla said in postgame video posted by Bobby Krivitsky.
Tatum has been dealing with the spotlight since he was about 12 years old, Mazzulla said, and he does not get enough credit for his emotional stability, his emotional intelligence, and his maturity. His quietness can come across as aloof, as if he is not paying attention or does not care. Mazzulla said it is the opposite.
Tatum cares about being a great teammate and about winning, according to Mazzulla. In the locker room after the game, Tatum told the team that Tuesday’s win meant nothing if Boston did not play the way it needed to Wednesday in Toronto.
Jayson Tatum’s 21 Points In First Meeting With Jaylen Brown
Tatum missed most of last season after tearing his Achilles tendon in the 2025 playoffs, ESPN reported. He scored 11 points in the first quarter Tuesday and finished with 21 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks on 8-of-17 shooting in 32 minutes.
Brown, who won the 2024 championship with Tatum in Boston and was named Finals MVP, had 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists on 4-of-9 shooting in 25:49. He was called for two fouls in the first quarter and his fourth early in the third. Philadelphia was outscored by 27 points with him on the floor.
Celtics Pull Away After A 79-79 Tie
The 76ers tied it at 79 late in the third quarter, and Boston scored 26 of the next 29 points. Tatum assisted on two fourth-quarter 3-pointers by Paul George, who finished with 36 points against the team that traded him to Boston.
The Celtics improved to 9-2, and Philadelphia fell to 9-3. Boston plays the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET.
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