Jayson Tatum calls his Game 3 performance

BOSTON — Jayson Tatum hasn’t had many dangerous nights this postseason. However when the Celtics star is off, he’s actually off.

Tatum was nowhere close to his celebrity self Saturday night time at TD Backyard, hitting simply three of his 14 pictures and scoring solely 10 factors in Boston’s 109-103 loss to the Miami Warmth in Sport 3 of the Japanese Convention Finals.

Whereas the Warmth hit nearly every part to begin the sport, Tatum could not get something going. He missed each of his pictures within the first quarter and put up a goose egg for the body, as Miami raced out to a 39-18 lead.

It did not get significantly better all through the night time. Tatum scored eight factors within the second quarter, however he did not make a shot from the ground within the second half. He was 1-for-7 from downtown and had six turnovers within the Celtics’ loss.

He wasn’t more than happy together with his efficiency after the defeat.

“Six turnovers, no area objectives within the second half, that’s unacceptable. I’ve to play higher,” stated Tatum. “I really feel like I left the fellows hanging tonight and that is on me. I acknowledge that; that was a tricky one.”

Jaylen Brown scored 40 factors, however the Celtics turned the ball over 24 instances — which included 19 steals by the Warmth — and simply by no means matched Miami’s depth. Tatum stated that half of Boston’s turnovers have been brought on by the Miami protection, whereas the opposite half have been “careless” turnovers by the Celtics.

Tatum briefly left the sport within the fourth quarter when he was harm whereas committing considered one of his six turnovers. He crumbled after Victor Oladipo stripped him, struggling a stinger on the play.

“My neck acquired caught in a bizarre place. I went down and felt some ache and discomfort down my neck and my arm,” he defined. “Received it checked on and began to achieve some feeling again. Medical doctors ran some exams and determined to present it a go.”

Tatum did not do a lot the remainder of the way in which after reentering the sport with 3:40 left. He took no pictures and dedicated his sixth and closing turnover of the night time with simply over a minute to play and the Celtics down by six.

It was an enormous missed alternative by the Celtics, who have been capable of minimize Miami’s lead right down to only one within the fourth quarter. The Warmth performed with out star Jimmy Butler within the second half, leaving the door open for a Boston comeback. The Celtics, nonetheless, by no means kicked that door open all the way in which, and a number of that has to do with Tatum struggling all through his 41 minutes on the ground.

He vows to be higher going ahead, and there’s purpose to imagine that he’ll just do that. Tatum additionally had a nasty Sport 3 final collection in opposition to Milwaukee, when he scored simply 10 factors off 4-for-19 capturing. He responded with a 30-point exhibiting in a Sport 4 victory over the Bucks, and went on to common 33.3 factors off 48 p.c capturing the remainder of the way in which in opposition to Milwaukee.

He is promising one other turnaround for Boston in Monday night time’s Sport 4.

“I simply should play higher. Easy as that,” he stated. “This time of the season, every part on the road, I simply should play higher.”