Celebrating ‘Deuce Day’ with birthday drip and a thrilling win over the Milwaukee Bucks
It was a party at TD Garden with cake, balloons, and father-son Nike.
Last time the Celtics and Bucks met on the hardwood, one might suggest there was no love lost between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaylen Brown, following the fake-out handshake in Cleveland that led Brown to call him a child. One might suggest the same with those third quarter Friday night scuffs.
However, it was all love at TD Garden, with a party for fan favorite Deuce Tatum who turned seven and got to celebrate at the Garden.
Sometimes called Little Deuce to Jayson Tatum’s Big Deuce, the duo shared a sweet father-son moment in the tunnel, marking the special day with a Spider-Man cake.
Lil Deuce blew out the candle and accepted a blue and yellow “Birthday King” balloon with gratitude and a look of wonder. “Thank you,” he said as the person off-camera handed him the present.
Walking the tunnel, we see the outfits front-to-back.
This year, Deuce Tatum wore a minty aqua matching set — the signature two-piece he often sports while watching dad play.
Last year, Dad posted Deuce in a similar green suit. Maybe it’s a birthday tradition. Maybe it’s the love between Nike and Tatum, who paired black-and-white Jordans with his all-green fit.
After the quick tunnel fête, Deuce continued the party on the parquet, shooting hoops with the team during pregame warmup, where Tatum played in Jordan Tatum 3s that matched the Action Green of the city jersey.
Meanwhile, in the visitor locker room, another birthday, another Sagittarius. Antetokounmpo turned 30 and fans shared love on social media.
And in a different show of love, Payton Pritchard donned a twill snapback created by “Quintessential Love,” a brand from Campbell and Jett Puckett.
Also known as “Pookie and Jett,” the Pucketts became famous on the internet by showing off their date night outfits. They recently appeared on a New York Times list of “63 Most Stylish People of 2024.”
Embroidered on the front of Pritchard’s hat, “I Don’t Shop, I Buy,” the distinctive phrase appeared in a “stone and coffee” color palette according to the brand website. It resembles the vibe of Pantone’s 2025 Color of the Year, a medium brown tint described as “a global mood of connection, comfort, and harmony.”
By the end of the night, Antetokounmpo lost his birthday game, the Celtics trouncing the Bucks, 105-111. Tatum won with 34 points and Deuce by his side.
“There have been times when I would be on the road and miss his birthday entirely. That’s much tougher, being away on his birthday. He’ll be at the game (this year). He loves to come to the game. Obviously, I’ll still be able to perform and do my thing, but sharing his birthday and being there for his birthday is always a priority,” Tatum said about being with his son on Deuce Day.
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