Jayson Tatum’s leg injury rattles Celtics, NBA title hopes wobble

As Jayson Tatum was wheeled down the tunnel with his face buried in his hands, a hush fell over Madison Square Garden, and the entire city of Boston. The Celtics’ top scorer had just collapsed chasing a loose ball late in Game 4, casting a massive shadow over what had been a stellar night for him individually and a troubling one for the team.

The non-contact injury to Tatum’s right leg came with just under three minutes left in the fourth quarter of the Celtics’ 121-113 loss to the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. After lunging for the ball, his leg gave out, and he immediately reached for the area above his ankle in visible pain. He was unable to put any weight on it and was carried off the floor.

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Tatum had scored a playoff-high 42 points on 16-for-28 shooting before the injury. Now, the Celtics may have to prepare for a potential Game 5 without their franchise cornerstone.

Tatum injury sends shockwaves through Celtics’ NBA Playoff run
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla offered little detail after the game but confirmed that Tatum will undergo an MRI on Tuesday, May 13. “Obviously you're always concerned about someone's health. So it's twofold,” Mazzulla said. “We're concerned about his health, where he's at, and we're concerned about what we have to do better for Game 5.”

For Boston, the timing couldn’t be worse. The Knicks, who had trailed by over 20 points in Games 1 and 2, stormed back from a 14-point deficit Monday to take a 3-1 series lead. They now sit just one win away from their first trip to the Eastern Conference finals in 25 years.

Boston’s NBA title dreams in jeopardy without their star
Tatum, 27, is not new to playing through pain. Earlier this postseason, he missed Game 2 of the first-round series against the Orlando Magic due to a bone bruise in his right wrist and has played with a protective wrap ever since. But this leg injury may prove more devastating to the Celtics’ NBA playoff hopes.

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Mazzulla remains confident in his team’s resolve: “They'll be ready. That's just who they are… you trust the character of the guys in moments like this.”

Whether character alone can push the Celtics past a surging Knicks team—and do it without Jayson Tatum remains to be seen. Game 5 returns to Boston on Wednesday night, May 14, but the heart and soul of the team may not be on the court.