Embarrassing: Jayson Tatum taunts Cavaliers, Celtics blow a 22-point lead at TD Garden

TD Garden was rocking early last night as the Boston Celtics hosted the Cleveland Cavaliers in a battle of the top two seeds in the Eastern Conference standings.

The Celtics started the game like a team possessed, blitzing the Cavs en route to a 25-3 start within the first five minutes of the game. It looked like a funeral was in order for the Cleveland.

Boston was rolling, the crowd was electric, and Jayson Tatum was flexing all over the Cavs…which made what happened next even better for anyone who was not rooting for the Boston.

Jayson Tatum fuels Cavaliers comeback with taunt in the 1st quarter

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown was doing all this “f**k outta here” stuff in the 1st quarter up 22 points and LOST 💀

lmaooooooooooooooooooooooo

😂😂😂pic.twitter.com/93W1Yp9TzV

— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) March 1, 2025

By the end of the night, the Cavs had flipped that beatdown into a 123-116 win, storming all the way back to remind everyone that maybe—just maybe—they’re actually the team to beat in the East.

With 23 games left, the Cavs now hold an effective nine-game lead over Boston for the No. 1 seed (eight plus the tiebreaker).

Yeah, sure, the math says Boston could still catch them, but let’s be real—it’s a wrap.

Cleveland is the East’s top dog, and this win was a massive statement if these two squads end up meeting in the conference finals.

How It Started How It Ended 😭 pic.twitter.com/iw1qQZl59d

— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) March 1, 2025

Cleveland Owns the East, Whether Boston or Vegas Likes It or Not

Regardless, Vegas still isn’t buying what the Cavaliers are doing. The Celtics remain the title favorites at +200, with the Thunder right behind at +210.

Cleveland is sitting at +650. Disrespectful? It sure seems like it.

Jayson Tatum’s ‘Message’ to the Cavs Aged Like Milk…lol

Let’s talk about that moment. After drilling a corner three to stretch the lead to 25-3, Tatum turned to the Cavs bench and let them hear it. As the kids would say, he got caught in 4K.

“Get the bleep out of here.”

I’m not a professional lip reader, but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out what Tatum meant. This wasn’t just about this game—he was telling the Cavs their little joyride at the top of the standings was over.

Post-NBA Trade Deadline, we finally get to enjoy some real basketball. Tatum made it sure to to let the Cavs know it’s time to get serious and they do not belong in the Finals conversation.

Then of course, Boston and Tatum were humbled into oblivion. Up 22-points in the first quarter at home in the Garden only to allow the Cavs to storm back and add another W to their now 7.5 game lead in the East?

Not great, to say the least. In fact, it appeared that Tatum was giving a warning shot to Celtics fans to get the bleep out of the Garden and avoid the pain of what was about to happen next.

Best part about all of this?

Boston fans had to endure a walk of shame back to their cars on a Friday night while the entire basketball world witnessed one of the worst collapses this season. They have nobody to thank more than Jayson Tatum for talking shit way too early in the night.

Trust me, as I sit here writing this as a Sixers and Philly sports fan in general, it’s pretty much known that Boston’s pain is our pleasure, even with Joel Embiid on the shelf for the rest of the season and our basketball dreams already dead until the NBA Draft this summer.

Tank season has returned to Philly and I’m perfectly fine with that >>

According to Tankathon, the Sixers have a 37 percent chance of getting a top-4 pick in the draft, and a 9 percent chance of winning the lottery. The Hornets, Wizards, and Utah Jazz currently each have the highest chance at 14 percent.

The Sixers chances at Cooper Flagg and the path to truly completing The Process >>

I’ll take that over competing for a play-in spot—no doubt about it.

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