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Jayson Tatum revealed that he initially did not want to be selected by the Celtics in the 2017 NBA Draft

The Boston Celtics dropped Game 2 at TD Garden on Tuesday night, falling 111-97 to the Philadelphia 76ers to level the series at 1-1. Jaylen Brown led Boston with 36 points, while Jayson Tatum finished with 19 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists in 39 minutes. Philadelphia shot the ball with confidence all night, burned the Celtics from three, and played with a physicality that Boston could not match.

It was a frustrating defeat. For Tatum, though, it came with a perspective that only someone who has been through what he has been through could offer.

After the game, he was asked about his health. What followed said everything about where his head is at heading into this playoff run.

What Tatum Said After the Loss

GettyJayson Tatum, Boston Celtics.

Tatum did not dwell on the result. He found the silver lining almost immediately.

“I’m feeling good,” Tatum said. “It sounds cliche but, man, I’m back in the playoffs. For me, it’s a win every day that I’ve come back from what happened last May and being able to play at this level for the last month. I get to walk off the court on my own two feet. So as long as I do that every game, I win a little bit.”

The words landed with full context behind them. Tatum ruptured his Achilles in Game 4 of last year’s Eastern Conference Semifinals at Madison Square Garden and had to be helped off the court before being wheeled out of the building in a wheelchair. In that moment, he feared the worst.

He did not just come back. He came back playing like a superstar, averaging close to 22 points per game through 16 regular-season appearances since his return in early March.

Tatum was equally measured when addressing the loss itself.

“Obviously frustrated after the loss,” Tatum said. “I wish I would have played better, wish we would have played better. But even before getting injured, I think just being through it so many times, the playoffs are a roller coaster.”

What Went Wrong for the Celtics

GettyVJ Edgecombe of the Philadelphia 76ers.

The 76ers were the better team on Tuesday night. Philadelphia shot with confidence from three-point range and brought a defensive intensity that caught the Celtics off guard after their dominant Game 1 performance. Boston finished with just 13 three-pointers on 50 attempts, a shooting night that made comebacks nearly impossible whenever Philadelphia stretched the lead.

Turnovers compounded the problem. The Celtics handed the 76ers easy transition opportunities throughout the first half and could never fully recover. Paul George hit timely shots. VJ Edgecombe was outstanding, finishing with 30 points on 60 percent shooting. Boston simply did not have an answer.

What Tatum Said About the Road Ahead

GettyJayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics.

Tatum has now played 123 playoff games in a Boston uniform. He knows what a series looks like when it swings. He is not panicking after one loss.

“Our job is to focus on the things we can control,” Tatum said. “Good or bad, we can’t necessarily listen to the outside noise. I’ve been dealing with that for the last nine years.”

He kept the same composure when discussing what the playoffs demand mentally.

“Throughout my career and obviously throughout the playoffs, it’s just about emotional stability,” Tatum said. “Don’t get too high after a win or too low after a loss. They all count as one. You’ve just got to stay level-headed.”

The series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Friday. Boston lost homecourt advantage on Tuesday. The pressure arrives in full on Friday night.

Final Word for the Celtics

Tatum walked off the court on his own two feet on Tuesday night. By his own measure, that is a win.

The result was not what the Celtics wanted. The series is tied. Game 3 in Philadelphia is next, and Boston has been in tighter spots than this before.

Tatum has the perspective to handle it. The team will follow his lead.