Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Coaches Watch Jayson Tatum Join Exclusive Celtics List

Jon Scheyer and Chris Carrawell were on hand as Duke basketball one-and-done Jayson Tatum flirted with a triple-double in the NBA Finals.

Matt Giles

Former Duke basketball forward Jayson Tatum
Former Duke basketball forward Jayson Tatum / Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
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Once again, Duke basketball products Jayson Tatum, Kyrie Irving, and Dereck Lively II were collectively frigid from the field in the NBA Finals, shooting 14-for-43 in Game 2 on Sunday night after posting a combined 13-for-36 clip in Game 1 three nights earlier.

However, in facilitating the Celtics' 105-98 home win to take a 2-0 series lead over Irving, Lively, and Dallas, Tatum exhibited impressive versatility and unselfishness once again. According to Basketball Reference, the 26-year-old joined Boston legends Larry Bird (1986) and Bob Cousy (1959) as the only players in franchise history to record at least 18 points, nine rebounds, and 12 assists in an NBA Finals contest.

This time, a follow-up to his 16 points, 11 boards, and five dimes in Game 1, Jayson Tatum displayed his all-around prowess in front of Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and assistant Chris Carrawell.

The pair from Durham sat courtside. And during pre-game warmups, they met up with the All-NBA First Team forward and a former member of Scheyer's staff in Celtics assistant Amile Jefferson:

Meanwhile, former Celtics guard Kyrie Irving is now winless against Boston in his past 12 tries. The one-time NBA champion (with Cleveland in 2016) finished with 16 points and six assists while shooting 7-for-18 from the field and 0-for-3 from three (6-for-19 and 0-for-5 in Game 1).

Dereck Lively II played 19 minutes off the bench, tallying two points and seven rebounds. The 7-footer was 1-for-3 from the field, ending his five-game streak without a miss.

Game 3 of the first NBA Finals to feature three Blue Devils tips off in Dallas at 8:30 p.m. ET Wednesday.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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