The Boston Celtics dominated a star-studded exhibition game against former Seattle Seahawks players 118-112 at TD Garden on Tuesday night, with Jayson Tatum dropping 28 points in what became an unexpectedly competitive charity showcase.
Tatum Torches Former NFL Stars
Tatum went 11-for-18 from the field and knocked down five three-pointers as the Celtics treated the sold-out crowd to a glimpse of their championship form. The 26-year-old forward opened the game with back-to-back threes and never looked back, finishing with eight rebounds and six assists in 32 minutes of action.
“Those guys are incredible athletes, but this is our house,” Tatum said after the game. “We wanted to put on a show for the fans who came out to support the cause.”
The exhibition benefited the Richard Sherman Family Foundation and raised over $500,000 for youth basketball programs in Boston and Seattle. Former Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, who organized the event, played 28 minutes and surprised everyone by hitting three shots from beyond the arc.
NFL Stars Show Unexpected Court Skills
Sherman wasn’t the only former Seahawk to make his mark. Russell Wilson, making his first public appearance since joining the Denver Broncos, showcased the same precision that made him a Super Bowl champion. The quarterback-turned-point-guard finished with 22 points and 11 assists, running the Seahawks alumni squad with surgical efficiency.
“Russ still has that competitive fire,” said former Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin, who added 18 points off the bench. “He was calling plays out there like we were back in the NFC Championship.”
The most surprising performance came from former linebacker Bobby Wagner, who used his 6-foot frame and quick feet to grab 14 rebounds and block three shots. Wagner, who spent 10 seasons anchoring Seattle’s defense, proved his athletic versatility extends well beyond the gridiron.
Celtic Depth Makes Difference
While the Seahawks alumni kept pace through three quarters, Boston’s superior conditioning and basketball IQ took over in the final 12 minutes. Jaylen Brown added 24 points on efficient 9-of-15 shooting, while Kristaps Porzingis controlled the paint with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
The turning point came with 8:47 remaining when Brown stole a Wilson pass and converted a fast-break dunk that extended Boston’s lead to 98-89. The Celtics outscored their opponents 32-23 in the fourth quarter, using their professional conditioning to pull away from the aging NFL veterans.
“Those guys competed hard for four quarters,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “But there’s a reason we play 82 games a year. Basketball shape is different than football shape.”
Crowd Gets Money’s Worth
The 18,624 fans in attendance witnessed several highlight-reel moments, including a Wilson-to-Sherman alley-oop that brought the house down in the second quarter. Former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski made a surprise appearance at halftime, sinking a half-court shot that earned him a standing ovation from both Boston and Seattle fans.
The game featured modified rules with 12-minute quarters and a running clock, but the intensity never waned. Technical fouls were issued to both Wagner and Brown after a heated exchange under the basket in the third quarter, drawing laughs from teammates on both sides.
Sherman, who played two seasons with the New England Patriots from 2019-2020, received warm applause from the Boston crowd throughout the evening. The 36-year-old finished with 14 points, five rebounds, and four steals while playing stellar defense against NBA players half his age.
The Celtics improved to 2-0 in exhibition games this preseason and will face the Philadelphia 76ers in their next preseason contest on Friday night at Wells Fargo Center.
