Horry Scale: Jayson Tatum seals Celtics victory over Raptors with clutch overtime 3-pointer

Just a friendly reminder about The Horry Scale, which is used to analyze game-winning buzzer-beaters (GWBBs). We evaluate the shot based on difficulty, game situation (such as whether the team was tied or behind at the time), importance (if it was a playoff game or just a regular season matchup), and the celebration that followed. After carefully considering all of these factors, we assign an overall grade on a scale of 1-5 Robert Horrys, honoring the legend himself as the patron saint of last-second answered prayers.

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Given a second chance, Jayson Tatum delivered in the nick of time.

With the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors tied at the end of regulation, Tatum’s defender fell to the floor, leaving him wide open for an 15-footer from the top of the key. He hit nothing but backboard.

Tatum got another chance late in overtime on a broken play and knocked down a 30-footer at the buzzer to give Boston a dramatic 126-123 overtime victory.

GAME SITUATION: With the game tied 123-123, the Celtics called a timeout with 20 seconds after Neemias Queta blocked RJ Barrett ‘s layup attempt. Out of the timeout, Tatum bled the clock and looked for Jaylen Brown, who got pushed to the floor by Davion Mitchell. With no foul called, Tatum found himself stranded beyond the 3-point line with four seconds left. He had no choice but to take the long, contested jumper.

DIFFICULTY: On an island with a few seconds on the clock, Tatum had to improvise with Ochai Agbaji in his face. The Celtics star dribbled twice to create space and stepped back to launch the game-winner with 0.4 on the clock. While Tatum made it look easy, it wasn’t.

CELEBRATION: The crowd erupted as the Celtics’ PA announcer said, “JT FOR THREEE!” Meanwhile, Tatum’s momentum carried him away from Boston’s bench, but it didn’t take long for his teammates to track him down. Al Horford was the first to arrive with a celebratory chest bump and the party was on at TD Garden.

GRADE: After missing the potential game-winner at the end of regulation, Tatum gets points for redeeming himself in OT. No stranger to making big shots, JT met the moment once again, saved the Celtics from what would have been a bad loss and added to his legacy as one of the NBA’s top young stars. 3.5 Horrys.