How Did Jayson Tatum Do in Achilles Injury Return for Celtics vs. Mavs? LeBron, NBA Fans Sound Off

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum made his long-awaited return to the court on Friday at home against the Dallas Mavericks after suffering a torn right Achilles tendon last May.

Tatum stuffed the shat sheet with 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. He started and played 27 minutes.

Tatum got the home crowd going by executing a nice pick-and-roll with Neemias Queta and dishing to the big man for the game's first bucket.

He got his second assist by finding Jaylen Brown on the wing for a three.

Tatum didn't get on the scoreboard early (that didn't matter much as he got the offense going with his passing), but he scored his first points late in the second quarter after this putback dunk to put the Celtics up 52-51.

Tatum followed that up with a corner three.

Tatum stayed hot from the outside early in the third quarter with another corner three.

Boston went on a 22-5 run in the fourth quarter to take a 112-87 lead with just over five minutes remaining. Tatum hit another three during that stretch.

With the game result no longer in doubt, Tatum subbed out with 5:01 left, and other starters soon followed.

There was a little rust in the early going, but that's to be expected after a 298-day absence from playing in an NBA game caused by a brutal non-contact injury in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks.

Most importantly, this was an encouraging result and an inspiring return for a superstar player.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James and others were happy to see Tatum back and noted his tremendous impact on the C's.

The 42-21 Celtics, who sit second in the Eastern Conference, are now four games back of the first-place Detroit Pistons.

Boston will now hit the road for a three-game trip to visit the Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder. The Cavs are up first on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.