As it turned out, Stephen Curry held the NBA’s Game 7 scoring record for two whole weeks.
That’s because Celtics wing Jayson Tatum erupted for a historic 51 points during Sunday’s 112-88 win over the 76ers, sending Boston to the Eastern Conference finals and topping the 50 points Curry notched during Game 7 of Golden State’s first-round series win over the Kings.
Tatum was outstanding all game long but took control of the game during the third quarter, during which Boston went on a 28-3 run to turn what was a tight contest into a blowout. He made 17 of his 28 shot attempts to go along with 13 rebounds, five assists, two steals and no turnovers.
JAYSON TATUM IS UNSTOPPABLE 🔥
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) May 14, 2023
30 POINTS IN GAME 7!
(via @NBA)pic.twitter.com/ZqRYWSShMI
Tatum is now just the third player in Celtics history to have 40 or more points in a Game 7, joining Sam Jones and Paul Pierce. Tatum’s showing on Sunday was a continuation of his fourth-quarter heroics during Game 6, when he buried multiple clutch shots late in the game after a woeful shooting performance through the game’s first three quarters.
The Celtics’ win will pit them against the No. 8-seed Heat in the next round. Game 1 of that series is set to tip off on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET in Boston.
With time still left in the Philadelphia-Boston game, Jayson Tatum has set a record for most points scored in a Game 7.
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 14, 2023
▪️ 𝗝𝗮𝘆𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗺 - 𝟱𝟭
▪️ Stephen Curry - 50
▪️ Kevin Durant - 48
▪️ Dominique Wilkins - 47
▪️ Sam Jones - 47
