Jayson Tatum tied Larry Bird for the most 50-point games in Celtics history when he scored 54 points in a 126-120 win over the visiting Brooklyn Nets on March 6, 2022.
Bird took much longer to get there (he didn’t record his first career 50-ball until he was 26, and had his last at age 32). Tatum turned 24 on March 3.
Tatum scored 34 of his points in the second half. He shot 16-for-30, including 8-for-15 from 3-point range and 14-for-17 from the foul line. He also grabbed 5 rebounds and dished 3 assists.
Here are Jayson Tatum’s other 50-point games: 60 points on April 30, 2021 in a 143-140 overtime win against the visiting San Antonio Spurs; 53 points on April 9, 2021 in a 145-136 win against the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves; and 51 points on January 23, 2022 in a 116-87 win on the road against the Washington Wizards.
Here are Larry Bird’s 50-point games: 60 points on March 12, 1985 in a 126-115 win on the road against the Atlanta Hawks; 53 points on March 30, 1983 in a 142-116 win against the visiting Indiana Pacers; 50 points on November 10, 1989 in 117-106 win against the visiting Atlanta Hawks; 50 points on March 10, 1986 115-116 in loss on the road against the Dallas Mavericks.
Tatum is 4-0 while Bird was 3-1 during these games. The Atlanta Hawks are Bird’s target practice partners as two of his highest scoring games came against them both at home and on the road.
