Jayson Tatum: ‘This is a huge step’ in Celtics return

Jayson Tatum did not wait long to remind everyone what the Boston Celtics had been missing.

Tatum returned Friday night after nearly 10 months away from the court and finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in Boston’s 120-100 win over the Dallas Mavericks.

He also showed a little rust early. Tatum missed his first six shots before finding his rhythm, hitting each of his next five attempts as the game settled down.

“This is a huge step,” Tatum told reporters afterward. “I’ve still got a long ways to go.”

The Celtics star had been sidelined 298 days after tearing his Achilles during Game 4 of Boston’s Eastern Conference semifinal series against the New York Knicks last May.

His first points back came on a familiar play. With just over a minute left in the first half, Tatum boxed out Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg and slammed home a putback dunk off a missed three from Payton Pritchard to give Boston a 52-51 lead.

Tatum started and logged 27 minutes, finishing as a plus-20.

Meanwhile, Jaylen Brown led Boston with 24 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

The Celtics improved to 42-21 and remain second in the Eastern Conference standings. Boston will next visit the Cavaliers on Sunday.