The Boston Celtics survived a scare tonight as they beat the Minnesota Timberwolves. After receiving a lot of criticism lately, young star Jayson Tatum shut his critics up with a sensational performance tonight.

The two-time All-Star erupted for 53 points in their overtime win. After scoring just 18 points in the first half, Tatum went on a superb run in the second half. The Timberwolves kept piling on the pressure, but Tatum kept fighting and brought home the win. He also broke a couple of records with this performance.

The 23-year-old became the youngest Celtics player to score 50 points in a game. He went 16-25 from the field and 6-10 from three during this excellent display.

He also had 10 rebounds, which made him the first Celtics player to score 50+ points and grab 10+ rebounds since Larry Bird did it back in November 1989 against the Hawks. Bird also had a triple-double in the same game.

One of the most heartwarming moments of the game was when Jaylen Brown passed up on an easy bucket to let Tatum continue his scoring haul. They are one of the most exciting young duos in the league, and this partnership is why they excel together on the court.

Can Jayson Tatum and the Celtics avoid a play-in spot?

Despite their win tonight, the Celtics are still in the seventh spot. Their 27-26 record is far from what they would have expected after finishing as Eastern Conference Finalists last season.

Right from the start of the 2020-21 season, the Celtics have never looked at their best and have struggled to keep up with a .500 record.

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Recent form saw them plummet all the way to the eighth seed, but they currently occupy the seventh seed. That puts them in a play-in tournament spot, which could be tricky.

If they finish as seventh or eighth, they will have to win one extra game to qualify for the playoffs. However, if they end up losing two in a row during the tournament, they will fall to the lottery.

That could be harsh, but it is now a possibility. So, the Celtics need to work hard to move past the seventh spot. With Tatum finding his form at such a crucial stage, they need to bank on this and go on a run. They need to be consistent now, as they hope to return to the top.

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