Jayson Tatum scored 31 points and helped Boston Celtics to have a 116-110 victory over the Toronto Raptors

The victory secured the No. 1 seed for the Celtics in the Eastern Conference playoffs and improved their record to 44-21 overall. Tatum was at his best, scoring a season-high 31 points on 13-for-22 shooting from the floor, as well as having four assists, four blocks and two steals.

He also made all five of his free throw attempts. Jayson Tatum was the standout of the night for Boston (14-9), with 31 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists. He led a number of Celtics who hit double figures in scoring, including Jaylen Brown (20 points), Kemba Walker (18 points) and Tristan Thompson (12 points).

The game was close throughout and came down to the wire, with Tatum’s late basket putting the Celtics ahead for good. In doing so, he helped the Celtics extend their winning streak over the Raptors to 8 games, including a 117-112 game last week.

The performance was a reminder of why Tatum is one of the best young players in the NBA, and he has been a driving force behind Boston’s success this season. It was also an important win for the Celtics, who maintained their lead over the Raptors in the standings, with Toronto now two games back in the standings.

Celtics coach Brad Stevens was impressed with Tatum’s performance, praising his ability to create opportunities for himself and his teammates. “He just does so many things that help us win,” Stevens said after the game.

Tatum has been a leader for the Celtics this season, averaging 24 points, six rebounds and four assists per game. His performance on Monday night underscored his importance to the team, and why he is one of the most exciting players in the entire NBA.

With his heroics, Boston was able to secure a statement win over Toronto, maintaining their place atop the Eastern Conference standings.