NBA Notes: Celtics, Jayson Tatum, Magic, Anthony Black, Bulls

Celtics

Jayson Tatum admitted the emotions were different the second time around.

After making an emotional season debut in Boston on Friday following Achilles surgery, Tatum said Sunday’s game in Cleveland felt much more normal. And that was a good thing.

“The other day was such a big deal,” Tatum said, via Jay King of The Athletic. “Obviously in a home game in the city of Boston, I had a lot of family in town. Today just kind of felt like getting back in the flow of things.”

Tatum remained on a minutes restriction but still scored 20 points as the Celtics defeated the Cavaliers in a matchup of Eastern contenders.

He wasted little time getting going, scoring 12 points in the first seven minutes to help Boston build an early lead. Tatum struggled from three overall but hit a big one late to help hold off Cleveland.

“I don’t think his game has gone anywhere,” teammate Payton Pritchard said. “I’ve seen him working on it. Now it’s just about getting the flow back.”

Magic

The Magic announced that guard Anthony Black is dealing with a left lateral abdominal strain.

Black left Saturday’s game against the Timberwolves after two minutes and was later ruled out of Sunday’s game in Milwaukee. The injury occurred when he was fouled on a drive and grabbed at his back area.

Black has emerged as a Most Improved Player candidate this season, averaging career highs of 15.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.4 steals.

Meanwhile, Orlando said forward Franz Wagner continues to progress in his recovery from a high ankle sprain.

Bulls

Second-year forward Matas Buzelis is quietly climbing the league’s shot-blocking leaderboard.

The Bulls forward ranks seventh in the NBA with 94 blocks and is closing in on becoming the first franchise player in nearly a decade to reach the 100-block mark in a season.

“I’m really good at timing the block and knowing when guys will try and finish,” Buzelis said, via Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. “I feel like I’ve got the timing and the verticality. Straight up at the rim, it’s hard to finish over me.”