[Saba Sports News] An old comment from Jayson Tatum resurfaced following the Boston Celtics’ unexpected overtime defeat to the Charlotte Hornets on Monday. The Celtics, who had been ahead by up to 18 points in the first half and held a nine-point lead in the final two minutes, ultimately lost with a score of 121-118.
Post-game, Hornets forward PJ Washington subtly jabbed at Tatum, remarking to a camera, “Not bad for a Monday night on League Pass.” This was a nod to a widely shared video of Tatum last summer, where he addressed high schoolers in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League, cautioning against underestimating any game. In that talk, he mentioned the Hornets as an example of a less-followed team, saying, “Just because we’re playing Charlotte on NBA League Pass on a Monday and ain’t nobody watching, I’m chilling tonight.”
Ironically, less than four months later, and on a Monday night, Tatum faced a kind of poetic justice. It was the first matchup between the Celtics and Hornets since his remarks, and Charlotte clearly hadn’t forgotten.
Despite Tatum’s outstanding individual performance, scoring a season-high 45 points with 13 rebounds and six assists, he made crucial errors late in the game. He missed a crucial defensive play against Gordon Hayward and failed to make a tying free throw in the final seconds. Usually the one known for his sharp remarks, Tatum experienced a reversal of roles that night.