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NEW YORK (AP)— The Boston Celtics have become accustomed to witnessing Jayson Tatum rise after a fall, much like the time he suffered a wrist injury during the first round of the playoffs.
However, when he was unable to stand up late in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals and required assistance off the court, it became apparent just how serious his right leg injury was, even before any medical evaluations scheduled for Tuesday.
“He’s the kind of player who usually hops right back up,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla remarked. “So when he didn’t, it raised concerns. We’ll get a clearer picture tomorrow regarding the situation. But seeing him carried off like that is tough.”
With about three minutes remaining, the Celtics turned the ball over, and as Tatum lunged for a loose ball, his leg buckled and he fell. Visible agony washed over him as he buried his face in a towel, gripping his leg just above the ankle following a non-contact mishap.
The New York Knicks secured a 121-113 victory, taking a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. The competition will resume on Wednesday in Boston, where the Celtics must secure a win to keep their hopes of an NBA title alive.
Mazzulla confirmed that the All-Star forward was set to undergo an MRI on Tuesday.
“Tonight is definitely hard,” Celtics guard Jaylen Brown expressed. “Everyone seems to be at a loss for words—not only because of the loss but obviously the worry surrounding JT. However, we’ll lift ourselves up tomorrow and move on.”
Tatum had put up a postseason-high of 42 points before his injury. As he was wheeled away from the court, he was visibly distressed, hiding his face in his hands.
In his eighth NBA season, Tatum captured his first championship last year, leading Boston to its 18th title.
If Jayson Tatum is indeed sidelined for Game 5 (or longer), much will depend on Kristaps Porzingis to carry the load for the Celtics.
Players and coaches from both teams expressed their sympathy for Tatum, who had previously been injured during Game 1 of the opening round against Orlando, where he sustained a wrist injury after an awkward landing on a dunk attempt. He briefly remained on the court before returning to play, but ultimately missed Game 2—marking the first time he had ever sat out a playoff game.
The Celtics managed to win in his absence that time; now, they must rise to the challenge once more.
“It’s tough to see, but injuries happen to every player, you know?” said Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis. “It’s part of the sport, and we genuinely feel for him.
“But we’ve got to move forward. He wouldn’t want us moping around; we need to play our best basketball. So, we’ll head out there, give it everything we’ve got, and accept whatever the outcome may be.”
