Tatum scores 50 as Celtics earn playoff clash with Nets, Pacers eliminate Hornets

Jayson Tatum posted 50 points as the Boston Celtics overcame indifferent form to secure seventh seed in the Eastern Conference and an NBA playoff berth with a 118-100 win over the Washington Wizards.

Boston's play-in tournament victory against Washington on Tuesday secured a first-round meeting with star-studded second seed the Brooklyn Nets in the playoffs.

All-Star Tatum scored 32 of his 50 points in the second half as the Celtics rallied past the in-form Wizards, who had 15 of their last 20 games prior to the matchup at TD Garden.

Tatum added eight rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal for the Celtics, who open their series against the Nets on Saturday, while Kemba Walker added 29 points.

Russell Westbrook was below his usual standards for the Wizards, finishing with 20 points and 14 rebounds before prematurely exiting the game in the last quarter.

Bradley Beal added 22 points, nine rebounds and six assists as the Wizards now prepare to face the Indiana Pacers on Thursday to earn eighth seed and a date with the top-ranked Philadelphia 76ers in the east.

The shake and fall away en route to 50 PTS for @jaytatum0! #PhantomCam #BleedGreen The #7 @celtics take on #2 Nets in the First Round of the #NBAPlayoffs (Game 1 Saturday, 8pm/et on ABC) pic.twitter.com/3ipVlrLYJi

— NBA (@NBA) May 19, 2021

The Pacers cruised past the shell-shocked Charlotte Hornets with a 144-117 triumph earlier on Tuesday.

Indiana raced out to 17-4 lead and never looked back as the Hornets and Rookie of the Year candidate LaMelo Ball – who was four-for-14 from the field while making just two of six three-pointers – had a game to forget.

Pacers All-Star Domantas Sabonis had 21 rebounds along with his 14 points and nine assists in the win.

Malcolm Brogdon returned after three weeks out with a hamstring injury to add 16 points and eight assists from 16 minutes.

Oshae Brissett top-scored with 23 points as Indiana had eight players reach double figures, with Doug McDermott (21 points) shooting four-from-six beyond the arc.

dominated from the jump @Obrissy: 23p/5r@Dsabonis11: 14p/21r/9a@dougmcdermott: 21p/3r Goga: 14p/10r@JustHolla7: 12p/5a@MalcolmBrogdon7: 16p/8a@TJMcConnell: 17p/4s@kelan30_: 14p/2r pic.twitter.com/tRJpOSjtF2

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 19, 2021