The Boston Celtics delivered a much-needed bounce-back performance in Game 3 of the NBA 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals, earning a convincing 115–93 win over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Jayson Tatum played a key role, contributing both in scoring and in facilitating the offense after facing sharp criticism for his early-series struggles.
After the game, Tatum addressed the expectations and pressure that come with being the Celtics’ franchise player. “You understand what comes with being that guy, right? I live a great life, I’m not gonna lie,” Tatum told reporters. “I make a lot of money, I take care of my family, I’ve been able to experience a lot of things. But you also have to accept what comes with that.”
“I get a lot of praise, I get a lot of credit, I get a lot of accolades,” he continued. “But I’m not perfect. There are times when I need to play better, when I need to do more. And that’s what comes with being ‘that guy.’ You have to understand that. It’s not just me. They’ve criticized players before me, and they’ll criticize players after me.”
Tatum also emphasized staying grounded and true to himself, regardless of public perception. “For me, there’s a joy I play with. Coming into a game with an angry face, mad at the world—that’s not who I am. That’s not when I play my best. You have to be the same person when things are going great and when they’re not. That’s the character of a good man.”
Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the second quarter at TD Garden.
Tatum’s Game 3 performance
Tatum showed renewed composure in Game 3, finishing with 22 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and five made three-pointers on nine attempts. While not dominant, his well-rounded performance helped Boston control the game from start to finish.
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His effort came after two underwhelming outings to start the series, where he averaged 18.0 points, 15.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists—but shot just 28.5% from the field and 25.0% from deep, among the worst shooting stretches of his postseason career. Game 3 marked Boston’s most complete effort yet, with the Celtics hitting 20-of-40 from three-point range while effectively neutralizing the Knicks’ perimeter game.
Jaylen Brown: “You gotta beat us four times”
Riding the momentum of the win, Jaylen Brown struck a defiant tone in his postgame comments. “You gotta beat us four times. That’s what it comes down to,” Brown said. “There’s a lot of basketball left to be played.”
The Celtics’ offensive inconsistencies had many doubting them coming into the game, but their response on the road sent a message: this NBA series is far from over.
