Jayson Tatum hits buzzer-beating 3 in Celtics win over Raptors after missing last-second shot in regulation

On By Littum

Jayson Tatum missed his first opportunity for a game-winning shot in regulation Saturday against the Toronto Raptors. But in overtime, he didn’t miss his second attempt with a game-winner.

Tatum’s 3-pointer at the buzzer gave the Boston Celtics a 126-123 victory at TD Garden. The win increased Boston’s record to 11–3. Only the 14-0 Cleveland Cavaliers are better in the Eastern Conference.

The Celtics star had a chance to win the game in regulation, but he lost his dribble while driving toward the free throw line. Ochai Agbaji dropped down on defense and gave Tatum an open look. However, he rushed his shot and missed badly.

Both teams scored nine points in overtime, but the Celtics had the ball in the end. Tatum got the ball with 12 seconds left and worked the 3-point line while matching up again with Agbaji. The play appeared to call for Jaylen Brown to break free at the top of the arc, but he was brought down by Davion Mitchell with no foul.

That prompted Tatum to take the shot himself. Mitchell moved over to double-team Tatum, but retreated against Brown, who would have been open. Tatum then stepped back, created some more space with a dribble and eventually took a shot with 0.6 seconds on the clock. When the buzzer sounded, the ball went through the net for the game winner.

Tatum finished one assist away from a triple-double with 24 points, 11 rebounds and nine steals. Brown led Boston with 27 points and added six rebounds and seven assists.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla praised Tatum for shaking off the miss at the end of regulation and taking the game-winner in overtime.

“I just remind him of the work he puts in every day,” Mazulla said afterward. “More times than not, more people miss game-winners than they make them. … He has the work ethic and mental toughness to work through all of those things.”

The Raptors battled the Celtics to the end, despite being significantly undermanned with All-Star Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, Bruce Brown and Kelly Olynyk out. Jakob Pöeltl led all scorers with 35 points, followed by RJ Barrett, who recorded a triple-double with 25 points, 10 rebounds and 15 assists.

Boston was without Jrue Holiday, who was out with a left knee injury. The Celtics are off until Tuesday when they face the currently undefeated Cavaliers in an NBA Cup game.