Tomase: Breaking down Bird's four 50-point games after Tatum tied C's record

Jayson Tatum joined some historic company on Sunday when he dropped 54 points on the Nets in a victory at the Garden. His fourth career 50-point game moved him into a tie with Larry Bird for the most such efforts in franchise history, though Tatum technically recorded a fifth in last year's playoffs.

In any event, everyone either remembers or is familiar with Bird's best game, a 60-point effort vs. the Hawks in 1985 that stood alone as a franchise record until Tatum tied it last year vs. the Spurs. But what about Larry's other three games?

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They're tougher to recall, but don't worry, we've got you've covered. Here's a look back at Bird's four highest-scoring games.

March 30, 1983: Celtics 142, Pacers 116

Points: 53

Recap: The Celtics were actually scuffling when they returned to Boston for the second night of a home-and-home with Bird's hometown Pacers. Blown out by 29 the night before, Bird made sure there'd be no repeat of that embarrassing performance by outscoring Indiana by himself in the first quarter, 18-16.

The Celtics led by 21 after one and put things away in the third quarter when Bird erupted for 24. He shot 21 for 30 in just 33 minutes, breaking team records for points (51, Sam Jones) and points in a quarter (23, Tommy Heinsohn).

"I think he was a little embarrassed in Indiana," forward Kevin McHale told the Boston Globe. "He came to town tonight with vindication on his mind and I'd say he vindicated himself -- and the team -- pretty well."

March 12, 1985: Celtics 126, Hawks 125

Points: 60

Recap: What is there to say that hasn't already been said? The most legendary regular-season performance in franchise history saw the Hawks high-fiving on the bench after each increasingly ludicrous basket.

Playing at Atlanta's home away from home in New Orleans and with legendary future Yankees broadcaster John Sterling on the call, Bird went off. He made 22 of 36 shots and missed only one of his 16 free throws, besting the franchise record of 56 points that McHale had set only nine days earlier.

"This is the greatest shooting exhibition I've ever seen!" Sterling exclaims at one point, and there's no arguing his conclusion.

March 10, 1986: Mavericks 116, Celtics 115

Points: 50

Recap: The only loss on this list was a true outlier. Bird scored at least 40 points 52 times in his career, including playoffs, and the Celtics won 46 of them. They seemed to have this one in hand when they opened a 13-point lead with a little over five minutes left, but a bad foul call on Robert Parish and some hot shooting from Brad Davis and Dale Ellis propelled the Mavericks not only to an improbable comeback, but their first victory over the Celtics, ever.

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Bird was scintillating, scoring five points in the closing seconds with the Celtics attempting to rally. He pulled the C's within one on a leaning 3-pointer that probably should've been a four-point play, according to the Globe's incomparable Bob Ryan, and he made a lefty runner in the final seconds to account for the final score.

"I'd rather score 20 and win than 50 and lose," Bird said.

Nov. 10, 1989: Celtics 117, Hawks 106

Points: 50

Recap: What's important to remember about this one is that it came at the start of the 1989 season in Bird's return from heel surgery that had limited him to just six games a year earlier. After a slow start that included 16-for-46 shooting in his previous two games, Bird took the floor determined to show the doubters he could still dominate, and boy did he once again eviscerate the Hawks.

Sporting the short haircut that marked the final years of his career, Bird went off in the personal matchup with Dominique Wilkins that always seemed to bring out the best in him. While Wilkins shot just 2 for 14, Bird made 19 of 25, including a dagger 3-pointer with two minutes left that pushed Boston's lead to six just moments after it had trailed by five. He added 13 rebounds and seven assists for good measure, letting the world know that he didn't plan on going anywhere.

"Larry's performance was sensational," Hawks coach Mike Fratello said. "He is truly one of the all-time great players to play this game."