Remember when Jaylen Brown told his former teammate Jayson Tatum to “stay ready at all times”? Well, Tatum certainly got the message.

When the two finally shared the court as opponents, the Celtics star was ready for the matchup. Brown, on the other hand, didn't exactly deliver the performance he was talking about. Brown even ignored Tatum pregame.

The Boston Celtics dominated the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night, earning a 123-101 victory in Philadelphia. While former Sixers star Paul George stole the show with 36 points, the biggest storyline entering the game was the first meeting between Tatum and Brown since their blockbuster separation. One defensive statistic makes the matchup even more entertaining.

According to NBA tracking data shared by Dan Greenberg, Tatum guarded Brown for 10 possessions (most on Boston), holding him scoreless on 0-for-1 shooting while forcing a turnover. Brown guarded Tatum for 11 possessions (3rd-most on Philly), allowing four points on 2-for-2 shooting without forcing a turnover.

In other words, Tatum got the better of his former teammate on both ends of their limited head-to-head matchup.

Where was all that talk about staying ready, and lamb chops and beef, Jaylen?

Tatum finished the night with 21 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. Brown had 13 points, five rebounds, and two assists, but his minus-27 rating was the worst in the game. He also struggled to make an impact as Boston pulled away in the fourth quarter.

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There was plenty of attention surrounding Brown's comments before this game, especially after he took a shot at Tatum's public relations team and suggested his former teammate should stay ready. Tatum never seemed interested in turning the situation into a personal feud, but he certainly had an answer on the basketball court.

The Celtics didn't need Tatum to win a one-on-one battle with Brown to take care of business. They crushed Philadelphia by 22 points, moved ahead of the Sixers in the Eastern Conference standings, and made a statement against one of their biggest rivals.

Brown and the 76ers have plenty to think about after that performance. Tatum and Boston got the last laugh, and the defensive numbers make the former Celtics teammates' first meeting even sweeter for the Boston faithful.