Jayson Tatum sparks Celtics to win over Heat, downplays fall - ESPN

BOSTON — Celtics star Jayson Tatum was a catalyst in more ways than one in Boston's convincing 114-94 victory over the Miami Heat on Sunday afternoon in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.

He played smart, unselfish basketball against Miami's double-teams, logging his first career playoff triple-double with 23 points, 10 boards and 10 assists. But as the contest entered its final minute, Tatum also showed toughness, popping up off the floor immediately after getting hit by Heat wing Caleb Martin while going airborne for a rebound. The play initially scared the TD Garden crowd but galvanized the Celtics, who wanted to show they wouldn't be pushed around by the highly physical Heat club.

«It's playoff basketball, and it's a physical game against a physical team. S---'s gonna happen,» Tatum said, adding that he wanted to get up from the fall quickly to show he wasn't hurt. «It's probably not the last time I'm going to get hit like that in this series.»

After the game, Martin said he didn't intentionally collide with Tatum and that his momentum simply led him into the airborne Tatum. Replays showed that Boston's Jrue Holiday might have pushed Martin from behind in the moment before the collision. Martin sought to help Tatum up afterward, but Boston star Jaylen Brown pushed him away before he could. Martin and Brown were assessed technical fouls after exchanging words.

For as dangerous as the play initially looked, with Tatum appearing to come down on his hip — and nearly slamming his head on the hardwood — the Celtics suggested the skirmish might create a rallying effect going forward.

«I was excited about the whole situation,» Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. «I enjoyed watching it.»

Said center Kristaps Porzingis: