Jayson Tatum Impresses Despite Rust As Celtics Stifle Cavs In His Second Game Back From Achilles Injury

Jayson Tatum went cold after a hot start on Sunday in his second game back from Achilles tendon tear.

But it didn't matter for the Boston Celtics, who stifled the Cleveland Cavaliers on the road en route to a 109-98 win. Tatum found his form again late in the fourth quarter en route to 20 points to help fend off a Cleveland rally in what added up another encouraging effort in his return from injury against one of Boston's top rivals in the East.

Tatum went 4 of 6 from the field in a 12-point first quarter as the Celtics opened up a 35-26 lead. He missed seven straight field goals from there and didn't hit another until the final four minutes of the fourth. 

Cold 2nd quarter dooms Cavs

But the Cavaliers went even colder against a stifling Celtics defense that ranks sixth in the NBA in defensive rating in a stagnant second quarter that allowed the Celtics to extend their lead. The Cavaliers scored just 10 points in the second while shooting 4 of 25 from the field and missing all 14 of their 3-point attempts. 

The Celtics eventually extended their lead to 26 points, a deficit that proved too big for the Cavaliers to overcome. 

Tatum hits clutch late buckets

Cleveland cut the Boston lead to 98-90 midway through the fourth. But the Celtics fended off the run, thanks in part to a pair of late Tatum buckets. Tatum hit a layup to extend Boston's lead to 104-90 in the final four minutes, his first made field goal since his 4-of-6 start. He then hit a 3 with 1:59 remaining for a 107-95 lead that further stunted Cleveland's comeback effort. 

Tatum finished with 20 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists while shooting 6 of 16 from the field and 2 of 9 from 3 in 27 minutes. While it wasn't efficient, it was another encouraging effort from Tatum in his second game back from a ruptured Achilles tendon that he sustained in the playoffs last season. 

"I think we did a good job," Tatum told ABC after the game. ... "I can't stress it enough. I'm just happy to be out here, playing on the team with the guys, competing. Making plays, making mistakes. Just happy to be out here."

Can Tatum lift Celtics to title contention?

The Celtics are now 2-0 since since Tatum's return that has the potential to shake up the NBA championship race. In what was expected to be a down year because of Tatum's injury, Boston instead went 41-21 in Tatum's absence. Tatum, who was widely expected to miss the entire season with his injury, then returned to the lineup Friday night. 

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He posted 15 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists in Boston's 120-100 win over Dallas in a game in which he also shot 6 of 16 from the field. While his shooting is understandably rusty, his performance in two games coming off a devastating injury has further boosted a Celtics team that's been one of the biggest surprises of the NBA season.

Tatum's been able to play largely without limitation and has now played 27 minutes in each of his two games back. He's been impactful on both sides of the floor and was Boston's second-leading scorer on Sunday behind Jaylen Brown, who tallied 23 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists. 

Brown's play this season in Tatum's absence has kept the Celtics competitive and put him in the MVP conversation. If Tatum continues to improve and return to All-NBA form, he and Brown would present one of the NBA's most dangerous tandems just in time for the postseason.

It's a prospect that puts the rest of the Eastern Conference and the league on notice. And it's one few saw coming just weeks ago.