Overview
- Jalen Brunson and Jayson Tatum will face off in the NBA playoffs for the first time as the Knicks and Celtics meet in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
- Their rivalry dates back to a 2015 high school matchup at the Cancer Research Classic, where Tatum scored 39 points and Brunson tallied 48 in a highly competitive game.
- Both players posted prolific stats in the first round of the 2025 playoffs, with Brunson averaging 31.5 points and Tatum close behind at 31.3 points per game.
- Vintage footage of their high school battle has gone viral on social media, adding to the excitement ahead of Game 1 at TD Garden.
- Brunson and Tatum took different paths to stardom, with Brunson winning two NCAA titles at Villanova and Tatum excelling as ACC Freshman of the Year at Duke.