Jayson Tatum’s thrilling game-winning three-pointer against the Toronto Raptors in overtime on Saturday should have been called traveling, according to the NBA’s Last Two Minutes (L2M) report.
The report states that Tatum “slides his pivot foot before releasing his dribble” on the decisive shot that gave the Boston Celtics a 126-123 victory.
The game was tied at 112 in regulation, and after RJ Barrett missed a crucial free throw, Boston capitalized with a driving layup by Neemias Queta. Toronto forced overtime, but Tatum’s buzzer-beating three-pointer in the extra period sealed the win for the Celtics.
Tatum recorded a double-double, finishing with 24 points and 11 rebounds. He played a key role in Boston’s 11th win of the season, alongside Jaylen Brown, who led the team in scoring with 27 points.
Al Horford and Derrick White also contributed 18 points each to help Boston maintain their strong start to the season.
While Tatum’s shot proved to be the game-winner, the Raptors had their chances. Toronto’s Jakob Poeltl put together a career performance, scoring 35 points on 16-of-19 shooting and grabbing 12 rebounds.
RJ Barrett also added 25 points and 10 rebounds, but Toronto dropped their seventh consecutive loss, falling to a dismal 2-12 record.
The Celtics’ victory allowed them to avoid a third home loss this season, improving their record to 11-3. For Toronto, the loss continued their struggles away from Scotiabank Arena, leaving them with only two wins this season.
