Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown come up big in Celtics' 'fun' Game 3 win - ESPN

PHILADELPHIA — Since Jayson Tatum's rookie year in 2018, he and Jaylen Brown have played in more playoff games than anyone else in the NBA.

And that experience, the countless moments where they've been tested on the biggest stage, shined through Friday night against their big rivals in the 76ers.

Until Derrick White knocked down a pair of insurance free throws in the closing seconds, Tatum and Brown combined to score or assist on the first 27 points Boston scored in the final period, including both players making multiple dagger jumpers as the Celtics retook the series lead in this best-of-seven affair with a thrilling 108-100 win over Philadelphia in front of a raucous sellout crowd at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

«I just missed being a part of moments like that where it's just a back-and-forth game,» said Tatum, who continued his return from last year's torn Achilles tendon with 25 points, four rebounds, seven assists and a steal in 42 minutes, including the game-sealing 3-pointer off a White offensive rebound with 27 seconds to go.

«Sometimes we had some moments where things didn't go our way and then we had to fight back and get the lead,» Tatum added. «And it was just a figure-it-out type of game. And make winning plays. The rebound [White] got. The steal that [Brown] got. [Payton Pritchard] hitting that big shot. Just as a basketball player, being on a team where everybody's just contributing and making plays, I just missed being a part of moments like that.

»And it was just fun."

It was a captivating game to watch, with Tatum and Brown — who also had 25 points along with seven rebounds, four assists, a steal and three blocks in 40 minutes — making one big play after another on one side while Tyrese Maxey, who finished