BOSTON — As the Boston Celtics gear up for Game 2 of their Eastern Conference first-round series against the Orlando Magic, their star forward, Jayson Tatum, is facing uncertainty due to an injury. Tatum has been deemed doubtful to play on Wednesday following a bone bruise in his right wrist. This news was made official with his status listed on the team’s latest injury report issued on Tuesday. The injury occurred during the latter part of Game 1, where the Celtics secured a 103-86 victory.
The incident transpired when Boston had a comfortable 89-73 lead with just over eight minutes left on the clock. Tatum attempted a dunk and was struck by Orlando’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who was trying to block him. The awkward fall on Tatum’s right side warranted attention, and he remained on the floor momentarily before rising with noticeable discomfort in his right hand. Upon reviewing the footage, officials decided to elevate Caldwell-Pope’s foul to a flagrant one. Tatum, however, continued to participate in the game, though his shooting performance was less than stellar, finishing with a tally of 17 points and making only eight out of 22 shots across 40 minutes.
Following the game, an X-ray of Tatum’s wrist showed no fractures, providing some relief to the team. However, discussions around his readiness remained a priority on Tuesday morning, as noted by Celtics’ coach Joe Mazzulla. According to Mazzulla, while Tatum was feeling sore initially, there was a slight improvement in his condition, and he managed to partake in some on-court activities during practice. “He was able to do some stuff and has gotten a little bit better today. We will continue to evaluate his status day-to-day,” Mazzulla stated.
Veteran teammate Al Horford, who confronted Caldwell-Pope during the game, expressed concerns about the nature of the foul inflicted on Tatum. “There was something extra there,” said Horford. “It was about the second or third time he, particularly Caldwell-Pope, took such an approach toward Tatum.”
Should Tatum be sidelined, the Celtics are considering various strategic adjustments to fill his role. One possibility would involve incorporating Horford into the starting lineup alongside Kristaps Porzingis, thereby forming a robust frontcourt. Alternatively, the team may decide to adopt a smaller lineup, introducing either Sam Hauser or sixth-man Payton Pritchard. The coaching staff will make final decisions based on Tatum’s recovery status ahead of the crucial matchup.