The forward received 99 of 100 votes for the first team after averaging 13.9 points and starting 80 games this season.

Jim Fenton The Enterprise @JFenton_ent

In his first season with the Celtics, Jayson Tatum has drawn comparisons to the player who recently had his number retired by the team.

 So it is only fitting that Tatum has become the first member of the Celtics to earn a spot on the NBA’s All-Rookie first team since Paul Pierce nearly 20 years ago.

 Tatum, who led the Celtics with 80 starts this season, received 99 of a possible 100 first-team votes from sports writers and broadcasters. Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers and Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz were unanimous selections, an honor Tatum should have received as well.

 “Somebody made a mistake,’’ said Celtics coach Brad Stevens during a conference call on Tuesday afternoon.

 Tatum was in the Celtics’ opening-night starting lineup last October and never left. He was the team’s third-leading scorer behind Kyrie Irving and Jaylen Brown, averaging 13.9 points on 47.5 percent shooting while making 83 percent of his foul shots.

 The Duke product played 30.5 minutes per game and hit 43 percent from 3-point range while grabbing five rebounds per game. Tatum set a franchise record for 3-pointers by a rookie (105) and shooting percentage (placing fifth among rookies in NBA history).

 Tatum’s scoring average is the highest by a Celtics’ rookie since Pierce, who made the All-Rookie first team in 1999, averaged 16.5 points.

 The forward, who was the No. 3 pick in the draft last June, joins four other rookies in NBA history to score at least 1,000 points and shoot at least 40 percent from 3-point range.

 “Well I think he should be (on the first team),’’ said Stevens, whose Celtics host the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals tonight. “He’s had an unbelievable rookie year and I don’t know who’s on the team. I haven’t looked at all that stuff, but any awards that come his way, he’s well deserving.’’

 In 16 playoff games, Tatum is the Celtics’ leading scorer, averaging 18 points, and he scored at least 20 points in seven straight games to break a record set in 1980 by Larry Bird.

 Joining Tatum, Simmons and Mitchell on the first team are Kyle Kuzma of the Los Angeles Lakers and Lauri Markkanen of the Chicago Bulls.

 Tatum, Simmons and Mitchell are the three finalists for the rookie of the year award, which will be announced at a ceremony in Santa Monica, Calif., on June 25.

 Since the early 1980s, the only Celtics to make the all-rookie first team along with Pierce and Tatum are Dee Brown, Antoine Walker and Ron Mercer. Jaylen Brown was named to the second team last season.

 Celtics forward Semi Ojeleye received one vote for the second team.

Larkin update: While guard Shane Larkin (left shoulder sprain) has increased his activity in recent days, Stevens said he is doubtful to play in Game 5 tonight.

 Larkin has sat out the past five games after running into a screen set by Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers on May 7.

 “I’d say there’s a chance of (Larkin returning this series), but I doubt it for tomorrow night,’’ said Stevens. “I don’t know if he’ll be listed as doubtful. My guess he would be listed as out, but I have not talked to our trainers yet about it. He’s coming along well. He’s making good progress.’’

Home, sweet home: The Celtics will be looking to improve to 10-0 in the playoffs at home when they meet the Cavaliers tonight at the TD Garden.

 The last time the Celtics opened the postseason with 10 straight home wins was 1986. That team only played 10 playoff games at the Garden while winning the championship.

 The 1984, 1985 and 2008 teams were all 9-0 at home before losing their first game.

 Jim Fenton may be reached at jfenton@enterprisenews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JFenton_ent.