Jayson Tatum, the Boston Celtics’ star player, suffered a concerning injury during a pivotal moment in Game 4 against the New York Knicks on Monday night. With just 2:58 remaining in the contest, Tatum’s right leg gave out as he lunged for the ball after the Celtics lost possession. The altercation left the glitter and glam of Madison Square Garden’s visitors’ locker room eerily quiet for almost 30 minutes. This eerie silence served as a backdrop to the dire situation we faced. The Celtics rallied to beat the Knicks 121-113 but find themselves a game away from playoff elimination.
Before his injury, Tatum had been having a brilliant ballgame, pouring in 42 on 16-for-28 from the field. This performance capitalized and magnified his importance with the Celtics. Second, he’s unquestionably been their best player and leader all season long. Tatum’s timing has been excellent, as he’s displayed remarkable durability during his eight-year NBA career. The streak continued in 2018, but a sprained wrist that sidelined him for Game 2 against the Orlando Magic in the first round was his first missed playoff game. Unfortunately, this latest setback further exacerbates fears about his health and availability going forward.
Even veteran teammate Al Horford said he was scared for Tatum after the game. He stated, “I’m concerned about Jayson. That’s the most important to me. … The game stuff, we’ll address it. I’m just hoping that he’s OK.” Horford emphasized what Tatum means to the organization and the city of Boston. On NY classifying the CBAs, he called the situation “very concerning.”
Tatum’s injury is particularly unfortunate in this pivotal moment for the Celtics, who have lost three straight and are on the brink of elimination in Game 5. The home team will be hoping to rally without their best player as they await positive developments on his health. It would raise Tatum’s total for missed regular-season games this year to 10 — the highest of his young career.
All-star Kristaps Porzingis, Tatum’s closest peer on the team, admitted that the emotional drain from this injury was palpable amongst the players. “These things happen. Obviously, we all felt for him in that moment, but we just have to keep going, we have to keep playing,” he said. Porzingis gets that, but players aren’t stupid when it comes to injury. They must focus on the action at hand as the game unfolds.
Karl Anthony Towns also chimed in on Tatum’s predicament, comparing it to his own experience with calf injuries. He expressed empathy and hope for Tatum’s recovery: “I’ve been in a situation like that with my calf [before], so I just walked up, respectful of his space, and just prayed to my mother, prayed to God, to put protection over him. Whatever he has to endure, I wish him the fastest and least painful one.”
As they prepare for Game 5, the Celtics will have to deal with the unknowns of Tatum’s health. They are only concerned with continuing to advance in the playoffs. New York is only a few minutes from its first conference finals appearance in 25 years. This raises the stakes on Boston to provide incredible experiences.
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