Jayson Tatum Dagger Sends Celtics Past Cavaliers

Jayson Tatum buried a dagger three in his second game back, lifting Boston to a 109-98 win over Cleveland. He’s hit the ground running after his Achilles tear, totaling 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in his first game and 20 points on Sunday. The Celtics missed him, and clearly, Tatum "missed his own jump shot" until now. Merlin sees more than a single shot. That three is a proof of concept: spacing, rhythm and leadership returning to a title-caliber team. The real question is endurance. Tatum’s flashes calm the room now, but the long season and playoff grind will reveal whether this return is durable or merely an enchanting preview.