What happened: Tatum shot 6-of-11 from the floor while dishing out four assists and grabbing four rebounds. The balanced production anchored the opening period across his initial stretch of minutes.

Why it matters: The performance continues a strong stretch after he scored 23 or more points in four straight games earlier in the campaign. His early involvement highlights his central role directing scoring and distribution.

What to watch: Watch for how defensive schemes adjust against Tatum as the game progresses into the middle quarters.