BOSTON — Veteran wing and nine-time All-Star Paul George knows what it's like to be in a flow state on the basketball court. He's experienced it countless times throughout his storied career. And while the first-year Boston Celtic didn't reach that level himself on Friday night against the New York Knicks, he witnessed star forward Jayson Tatum get there.
In the first game of the 2026-27 regular season, Tatum was forcing some jumpers and making uncharacteristic turnovers against the Detroit Pistons. That subpar performance contributed to a 121-113 loss and prompted the ire of several basketball pundits in the media — and many fans online. Things slowed down for Tatum during Boston's second game, as the six-time All-Star made the extra pass, drained
tough shots, and limited his mistakes in a 107-103 win over the reigning NBA champions at TD Garden.
Paul George on Jayson Tatum’s performance tonight:
— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) October 24, 2026
“JT was special…he put the team on his back.”
“Whatever pressure, whatever defense they showed, he had an answer for.” pic.twitter.com/oFxsp5P9C6
"JT was special," George said in the locker room. "He was special from start to finish. He got to wherever he wanted. He put the team on on his back. Our job was to give him space, get stops, but everything was fluid. He did it effortlessly. Whatever pressure, whatever defense they showed, he had an answer for."
George isn't exaggerating. Tatum finished with a game-high 36 points — his most since returning from an Achilles injury in early March — to go along with 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and only 2 turnovers in 37 minutes of play.
Moreover, when it mattered most, Tatum was at his best. The 2024 NBA champion scored as many points (7) as the Knicks did in the final 2 minutes of action, including a huge 3-pointer over Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns that gave the Celtics a 106-100 lead with 30 seconds remaining.
"Nothing was out of place," George described of Tatum's big night. "Everything just seemed like it was tight. It was sharp. He didn't play around with the defender. He didn't play around with the ball. Everything was crisp."
Tatum seemed so at ease while dismantling the Knicks on the parquet floor that George was reminded of how it feels to hoop during the offseason, when one can hone their game in a more controlled environment.
"He got to his spots, and...when a player is in that zone, it's kind of like summer," he explained. "You drill that type of basketball, and you see it, and you rep it out. That's kind of what it looked like. He was just in his element."
Although George wasn't as productive as Tatum on offense, he still logged 15 points and 7 rebounds in just his second outing as a Green Teamer. Plus, he did recently record 38 points versus the Pistons, giving him the highest-scoring output ever for a Celtic making their debut.
The sample size is small, but if George and Tatum can stay healthy, perhaps they could form a lethal combo for the 1-1 Celtics. Tatum once idolized the elder George, and now the latter star is left impressed by the former.
"That's the JT that we've all seen, and he's special," George praised. "Kid is special."
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Paul George on how Jayson Tatum had all the answers vs. Knicks
