Celtics' Jayson Tatum: Scores 12 points Friday

Tatum notched 12 points (4-11 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 1-2 FT), six rebounds and five assists across 20 minutes in Friday's 107-103 preseason win over the Nuggets.

Luke Kornet was the only starter who reached the 20-minute mark in this preseason opener, but when he was out there, Tatum was the clear focal point of the Celtics' offense. That shouldn't be a surprise to anyone, as Tatum has been one of the most consistent performers in the league over the last few years and is a key cog in Boston's offensive scheme. The final shooting line wasn't pretty, but preseason stats shouldn't matter much. Expect Tatum to be a man on a mission as he aims to lead the Celtics to a second consecutive NBA title in 2024-25.