Boston Celtics rookie Baylor Scheierman made the most of his opportunity on Tuesday night in the NBA. Talking about a rookie moment? Nah, it was more like a rookie takeover.
He went on a barrage, dropping a career-high 20 points and setting TD Garden on fire. With Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown sidelined, the 24-year-old seized the moment. Raining threes? Hustling on defense? You name it. He made sure the Brooklyn Nets felt every bit of his presence.
And when he checked out? The Celtics bench erupted like they just won a playoff game.
Baylor’s Breakout Gets Standing Ovation
As expected, the Celtics are dominating this season. But this kind of run brings some wear and tear along the way. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are both out with knee injuries, but sometimes, this kind of burnout also creates an opportunity.
Opportunities like this don’t come often for a rookie on a championship-caliber squad. But Scheierman? He made sure the NBA took notice. The sharpshooter was lights out from beyond the arc, knocking down six of seven triples and fueling the Celtics’ 104-96 win over Brooklyn. He also became the first rookie in NBA history to drop these numbers with less than 20 minutes played in a game.
Baylor Scheierman tonight:
20 PTS
6 3PMFirst rookie in NBA history to reach these numbers in a game with less than 20 minutes played. pic.twitter.com/TziNk2UvFp
— StatMamba (@StatMamba) March 19, 2025
It wasn’t just the scoring, though. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla made it clear—what impressed him most was the grit. “The 3s are a plus. To me, it was the defensive effort, the offensive rebounding, and the toughness that he played with,” Mazzulla said postgame.
The energy peaked late in the third quarter when Scheierman drilled a clutch buzzer-beating three, giving Boston a 71-70 lead.
Baylor Scheierman gets a massive ovation as he checks out of the game with 20 points on 6-7 from three
An unreal performance from the rookie pic.twitter.com/VYDgCkmGvK
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) March 19, 2025
The crowd erupted, his teammates mobbed him, and from that point on, it was the Baylor show. In the fourth quarter alone, he added three more deep balls, pouring in 13 points to secure the win.
A New Weapon Off The Bench
The Celtics are built for title contention, with their star duo of Tatum and Brown leading the charge. But Tuesday night proved one thing—when the squad needs fresh legs, they’ve got a weapon waiting in Scheierman.
His fearless performance wasn’t lost on the vets. The moment he walked off the floor, the entire bench gave him a standing ovation. Teammates hyped him up, the crowd showered him with love, and social media exploded with praise for the rookie’s star-making moment.
With the playoffs approaching, the Celtics now know they’ve got a young sniper ready to step up when called upon. And if Scheierman keeps this up? That Boston rotation might just get even scarier.
Did Scheierman just earn himself a bigger role in the Celtics’ lineup? Drop your take!