Boston’s playoff hopes shaken as Tatum exits Game 4 with major injury
In the early Monday evening hours, Jayson Tatum suffered a ruptured right Achilles tendon. The injury happened during the final minutes of Game 4 at the hands of the New York Knicks. It was, in all likelihood, the very first serious injury to occur during the very short NBA playoff period.
The operation was completed successfully on Tuesday afternoon. However, no official timetable has been set for Tatum’s return.
A playoff performance cut short
That night in the playoffs, Tatum was having one of his most memorable performances ever: 42 points on 16-of-28 shooting. Then, with about three minutes to go in the fourth quarter, he suddenly went down holding his leg in pain. Since he could not even bear weight on his right leg, he was helped off the court.
Even as the Celtics were down 3-1 in the series, it was hardly the loss that proved to be the focus of discussions in the locker room, but all about Tatum instead.
“I mean, at this point, I’m concerned about Jayson,” said Celtics veteran Al Horford in the locker room. “That’s the most important to me. The game stuff, we’ll address it. But I’m just hoping that he’s OK.”
A devastating blow to Boston’s title defense
Tatum has been the rock of Boston’s dominance since getting drafted third overall in 2017. The 27-year-old is on track to earn his way to the fourth consecutive stint in the All-NBA First Team, and that is something that was done by just 43 players throughout the history of the league.
Monday’s 42-point outing was his fifth 40+ point game in a playoff game in his career, thus tying him with Celtics legends Larry Bird and John Havlicek for most in franchise history.
He was Boston’s top scorer and passing leader in rebounds during last season’s championship run that saw the team win its record-breaking 18th NBA title.
He’s also played more games than any other NBA player since entering the league, while representing Team USA in both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics.
According to ESPN Research, Tatum ranks second only to LeBron James in total playoff points scored before the age of 27.
Outlook for the Celtics: Uncertain and uphill
With their top scorer now sidelined indefinitely, Boston faces enormous pressure to regroup. The team was already on shaky ground after blowing double-digit leads in each of its three losses this series, including a 14-point cushion in Game 4.
“These things happen,” Kristaps Porzingis said after the game. “Obviously we all felt for him in that moment, but we just have to keep going; we have to keep playing. It’s hard to accept the truth. But it is what it is, and we have to go forward with what we have now.”
The Celtics, aiming for their fourth straight Eastern Conference Finals appearance and sixth in eight years, now face the daunting task of moving on without their leader both in this postseason and potentially well into next year.
