Inside The Celtics

Jayson Tatum Discusses His Relationship with Celtics Fans: 'I Love Being Here'

Jayson Tatum's historical Game 7 performance propelled the Celtics back to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Bobby Krivitsky

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
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Sunday at TD Garden, Jayson Tatum made history, erupting for 51 points, the most in a Game 7, propelling the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals for the fourth time in his six years in the NBA with a 112-88 win.

Tatum turned into a human flamethrower in the third quarter, burying 4/5 threes and registering 17 points in 12 minutes. In that frame, the hosts broke the game open, staging a 28-3 run -- a disparity Boston sports fans know well from the Patriots erasing that deficit in Super Bowl LI.

And with the crowd at TD Garden as electric as ever, answering the call from Jaylen Brown to bring their A-game on Sunday, as Tatum knocked down one three after another, the often even-keeled star let his emotions out, including letting everyone know whose house they were in.

"I've gotta give a lot of credit to the crowd," the four-time All-Star expressed post-game. "We needed that. This is probably the loudest the Garden's been in like a year. And we fed off that energy. The energy that they gave us today really helped us. And we're gonna need that the rest of the way. They feed off us, we feed off them, and you could just feel it."

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Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

The two-time All-NBA First Team member also opened up about his relationship with Celtics fans.

"I can't express it enough: the genuine love that I feel from the crowd, whether it's pregame, during the game, (or) at the free-throw line. I've been here my whole career. I feel that they embrace me almost as one of their own, that means a lot. And I love being here. I love getting to put on this uniform. I love getting to play big games (and) put on big performances in front of them, and they feed off emotion and energy, and it's reciprocated. I can't express it enough, I just love being here. I love playing in front of this crowd."

Further Reading

Jaylen Brown Salutes TD Garden Crowd After Game 7: 'It Was Amazing'

Jayson Tatum Discusses Historic Game 7 Performance: 'That's When I Play My Best'

Here's What Stood Out in Game 7 Win vs. Sixers: Celtics Save Their Best Performance for When They Needed it Most

Celtics Praise Joe Mazzulla for Game 6 Adjustments That Helped Save Their Season

Celtics Discuss Jayson Tatum Rising to the Occasion, Forcing a Game 7

Here's What Stood Out in Game 6 Win vs. Sixers: Jayson Tatum's 16 Fourth Quarter Points Saves Celtics' Season

Jaylen Brown Discusses Whether Making an All-NBA Team Provides Clarity About His Future

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown Earn All-NBA Honors; Here's What That Means for Them and the Celtics

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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