Jayson Tatum Posters LeBron in Celtics’ 123-101 Win

Overview

• Tatum threw down a one-handed dunk over LeBron James during Boston’s 123-101 victory over Philadelphia on Tuesday night that became an immediate viral highlight.
• Tatum finished with 21 points, six rebounds, four assists and two blocks and said the dunk “felt good,” noting it had been about 19 months since he last dunked on someone as he works to get his legs back.
• Fans and analysts compared the play to Tatum’s 2018 Game 7 poster of LeBron, pointing out the uncanny match-up detail that the score was 71-67 before both dunks.
• The game also spotlighted roster shifts and on-court dynamics as Paul George scored 36 points for Boston and the night marked Tatum’s first meeting with former teammate Jaylen Brown, whose brief pregame cool exchange he later downplayed.
• The dunk reshapes short-term expectations for Tatum’s athletic form and sets a new storyline to test when the teams meet again in Boston on Jan. 21, 2027.