NBA Game Notes (March 1, 2023)

Here are the NBA game notes for games that were played on March 1, 2023.

Tatum Snaps Slump

Jayson Tatum snapped out of his recent shooting slump, scoring a team-high 41 points as the Boston Celtics held on for a 117-113 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Tatum shot 13-21 from the field (including 4-6 from 3-point range), adding 11 rebounds and eight assists.

Tatum now has 20 career 40-point games. He’s the third player in franchise history to reach that mark, joining Larry Bird (47) and Paul Pierce (21). It’s his ninth 40-point game of the season. The only Celtic to record more such games in a single season is Bird with 11 in 1987-88.

Teammate Al Horford scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, shooting 8-10 from the field with six 3-pointers made. Horford became the oldest player in NBA history to record a 20-point, 10-rebound game with an effective field goal percentage greater than 100% (age in years-days):

• 36-271 — Al Horford (March 1, 2023)

• 32-049 — Mike Dunleavy (Nov. 3, 2012)

• 31-279 — Chris Bosh (Dec. 28, 2015)

• 31-161 — Shane Battier (Feb. 17, 2010)

• 31-087 — Torrey Craig (March 16, 2022)

Regardless of age, Horford and Larry Bird (March 13, 1986) are the only players in franchise history to record such a game.

The Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell scored a game-high 44 points and dished out five assists in the loss. Mitchell shot 17-32 from the field — including 4-12 from 3-point range — and made six of his seven free throws.

This was Mitchell’s seventh 40-point game of the season. The only Cavaliers with more such games in their entire career with the franchise are LeBron James (51) and Kyrie Irving (11).

Backcourt mate Darius Garland had 29 points, nine assists, and four steals, the latter two figures game highs. It’s the fifth time Mitchell and Garland have each recorded at least 25 points and five assists in the same game, already the most such games by a backcourt duo in franchise history.