CHARLOTTE, N.C. — With 5:57 remaining Sunday night against the Charlotte Hornets, Jayson Tatum sized up forward Miles Bridges at the top of the key, used a ball fake to get the defender off balance for just a moment, then quickly rose to bury a 3-pointer without hesitation.

As Hornets coach Charles Lee called for a timeout, Tatum motioned toward some Charlotte fans and slapped hands with teammates with a focused look while heading toward the bench.

It was the type of play Celtics fans have waited for from Tatum since he returned nearly four weeks ago following a torn Achilles last May.

After the game, Tatum was asked if it was crazy to say the shot — and his reaction — signaled that he’s back.

“I mean, no, that wouldn’t be crazy to say,” Tatum replied.

In other words, Tatum, now 11 games into his return, is starting to feel it.

Tatum never returned to the game after giving the Celtics a 16-point lead. He didn’t have to — the dagger 3 essentially buried the Hornets.

He finished with a season-high 32 points on 12-of-23 shooting — including 5 of 10 from beyond the arc — to go with eight assists, five rebounds and a block in 31 minutes as Boston beat Charlotte 114-99 in what was perhaps his best game since returning March 6 in a 120-100 win over Dallas.

While Tatum did sit out Monday’s game at Atlanta with what the team called injury management, on Sunday it wasn’t just the shot that served as a reminder of how dominant Tatum can be.

He made turnaround jumpers off one foot, beat opponents on drives, had a rousing two-hand dunk and set up teammates with open looks after drawing double teams, all while playing with patience and poise.

“I didn’t feel like I was sped up,” Tatum said. “I was still kind of tired, so that’s something I’m still working through. But I like that I’m being decisive in my movements and exploding when I need to (and) reacting. Obviously it helps when you make shots. I can say I feel better than I did last game. Hopefully I feel better in the next game than I did today.”

Tatum became the youngest player in Celtics history to reach 14,000 points.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to be on some really good teams, be surrounded by some really good players and coaches on the staff, that have empowered me and helped me become the player I am today,” Tatum said.

But he’s happier just to be playing basketball again at a high level after a grueling rehabilitation. The Celtics are happy, too. They are 9-2 since his return.

“I’ve had to work my (tail) off just to run up and down the floor,” Tatum said.

Celtics guard Payton Pritchard, who had 28 points in the win, said Tatum’s outing was “encouraging” as the Eastern Conference’s second-best team prepares to make a run at an NBA championship.

“He was just very efficient in his movements and got to his spots,” Pritchard said. “He looked like a killer.”