Jayson Tatum said Duke’s last-second loss to UConn made him ‘sick’

MIAMI — Former Duke star Jayson Tatum was named the Blue Devils’ chief basketball officer in October. In the newly created role, he served as an adviser to coach Jon Scheyer and the players. And he enjoyed monitoring Duke’s dominant season that led to it earning the NCAA Tournament’s No. 1 overall seed.

But his reaction was predictably dour Sunday night, when the Blue Devils coughed up a 19-point lead against No. 2 UConn and lost when freshman Braylon Mullins drilled a last-second 35-footer following a Duke turnover.

“I was sick,” Tatum said before Tuesday night’s 147-129 rout of the Heat. “I was sick. But I couldn’t be more proud of those guys. It was an unbelievable season. Scheyer and his staff, obviously I have a great relationship with them. Hate to see us go out like that, but it was still an unbelievable year. We had the toughest schedule, No. 1 overall seed. … So I just kind of felt for all those guys in the locker room. That is an incredible way to lose, so I felt for all those guys.”

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Tatum said he appreciated his first year as the Blue Devils’ chief basketball officer, even if it did not end as he had hoped.

“Just tried to be a voice and resource,” he said. “Talking to the staff, I talked to Jon every other day. Players on the team would reach out. Just being an extended resource to the team and the guys that had any questions. I watched as many games as I could.”

Celtics center Nikola Vucevic, who has been sidelined since fracturing his right ring finger in the March 6 win over the Magic, took part in a lengthy on-court workout during the Celtics’ morning shootaround prior to Wednesday’s game against the Heat.

Afterward, he walked past Tatum’s interview session and asked the Celtics star to say nice things about him.

“Vuc has been working his [butt] off,” Tatum said, smiling. “He’ll be back soon, I hope.”

On March 7, the Celtics said Vucevic would be reevaluated in three to four weeks. He remained out against Miami but appears to be making progress.

“I think he’s getting better, as you saw in the workout today,” coach Joe Mazzulla said. “The most important thing is he feels 100 percent, and when he’s ready, he’ll come back. We just want him back when he’s ready to go to help us. We’ve obviously seen the impact he has as a player. Especially the last time we played Miami, he was huge. So whenever he’s ready to go, we’ll be ready, and he’s getting better.”

Mazzulla said that Vucevic, who was acquired in a trade with the Bulls in February, has been active in the team’s film sessions and practices while sidelined.

“Two days after he had his procedure he was out working on his cardio,” Mazzulla said. “So, he’s the ultimate professional. He’ll always be prepared, and I know when he comes back, he’ll be ready.”

Meaningful award for Tatum

Tatum on Monday was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week after averaging 25.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 6.7 assists in Boston’s three wins last week. He recorded his first triple-double of the season with 25 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists against the Heat. These in-season honors are usually not very significant to superstars such as Tatum, but he acknowledged Wednesday that this one, which came less than one month after he returned from last May’s Achilles injury, felt different.

“It’s probably the most meaningful one I’ve ever had,” he said. “I remember not that long ago I couldn’t run, wasn’t able to play five-on-five. It’s a small steppingstone, but I think being injured has made me appreciate every little thing along the way. It was cool to receive that obviously after having the injury.”. . . Heat All-Star Norman Powell (illness) missed the game. For the Celtics, guard Ron Harper (ankle) and center Neemias Queta (thumb) returned after missing Monday’s game against the Hawks.

Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach.