Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla pinpoints how Jayson Tatum lifted the team vs. Raptors

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla pinpoints how Jayson Tatum lifted the team vs. Raptors appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum sparked a remarkable comeback against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night. The Celtics recently managed Tatum’s workload amid injury concerns and overcame a 22-point deficit to secure a 98-93 victory. Boston coach Joe Mazzulla credited Tatum’s energy for changing the game’s momentum long before the final quarter. “I thought his energy just lifted everybody,” Mazzulla said while explaining Tatum’s impact following the comeback victory. Mazzulla emphasized that Boston’s turnaround began during the second quarter, not during its late-game heroics. Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial) “We didn’t win the game in the 4th quarter. We won the game in the middle of the 2nd quarter when we cut it to 7 again,” he added. Toronto appeared firmly in control after building a 59-37 advantage midway through the second quarter. However, Tatum sparked a crucial response as Boston mounted a 16-0 run. Toronto appeared firmly in control after building a 59-37 advantage midway through the second quarter. However, Tatum sparked a crucial response as Boston mounted a 16-0 run. The Celtics trimmed the deficit to seven points by halftime, completely changing the atmosphere of the contest. Tatum finished with 24 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds despite shooting just 6-of-21 from the field. His leadership and timely contributions proved valuable even without an efficient scoring performance. Derrick White added 19 points, while Neemias Queta contributed 11 points and 13 rebounds. Boston secured its fifth consecutive victory despite playing without Paul George, who missed the matchup because of illness. George had previously earned praise from Mazzulla for his impact on the team’s identity. Tatum also delivered two decisive free throws with 25.2 seconds remaining, giving Boston a 94-93 lead. For Mazzulla, however, the defining moment came much earlier. Tatum’s second-quarter energy helped transform a seemingly one-sided contest into another Celtics victory. Related: How Celtics’ Paul George spoiling Jaylen Brown’s revenge game is a big win for Brad Stevens Related: Attention-grabbing stat proves Celtics’ Jayson Tatum didn’t duck 76ers’ Jaylen Brown