Jayson Tatum makes NBA history in Mavs-Celtics game

Jayson Tatum makes history in NBA Finals, leads Boston Celtics against Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 at home.

In a thrilling matchup on Thursday night, Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics faced off against Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, held in Massachusetts. This marks Tatum's second appearance in the Finals within his first seven seasons in the league.

During the first quarter, Tatum achieved a significant milestone by surpassing the legendary Kevin Garnett on the all-time playoff points list, moving into 40th place. His next target is the iconic Bill Russell, another Celtics legend, who sits just ahead at 2,673 points.

Tatum's impressive performance in the regular season, where he earned his fifth consecutive NBA All-Star selection, showcased his skills. Averaging 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.0 steals per game, with shooting percentages of 47.1% from the field and 37.6% from beyond the arc in 74 games, Tatum has been a force to be reckoned with.

The Celtics finished as the top seed in the Eastern Conference, boasting the best record in the NBA at 64-18. Their journey to the Finals included victories over the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Indiana Pacers in the preceding playoff rounds.

Despite Tatum's consistent leadership, the Celtics have not secured an NBA championship since the 2008 season, when Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo led the team to victory. Game 2 of the Finals series is set to take place on Sunday evening, once again in Boston, promising another exciting showdown.