A small mistake, a huge impact – Tatum’s injury may have crushed the Celtics’ dreams.
The atmosphere inside Madison Square Garden turned heavy in seconds. Boston Celtics’ biggest hope, Jayson Tatum, fell to the ground and couldn’t get up. The tears on his face weren’t just because of the pain — they showed the fear that now looms large over the entire Celtics squad.
Game 4 Loss and Tatum’s Injury
The fourth game of the Eastern Conference Semifinals turned out to be a nightmare for Boston. Losing 121-113 to the Knicks was already a setback, but Tatum’s injury made it worse. Now the Celtics are down 3-1 in the series, just one game away from elimination.
Coach Joe Mazzulla had said before the game, “You’ve got to tap into your darkness.” But with their brightest star down, who’s left to lead the fight?
What Exactly Happened to Tatum?
With under three minutes left in the game, the Celtics lost possession, and Tatum dove to recover the ball. But his right leg gave out, and he collapsed. He clutched the area just above his ankle, clearly in pain, and signaled for a timeout.
He couldn’t stand or even put any weight on his leg. Later, he was taken off the court in a wheelchair.
MRI Scheduled, Game 5 Appearance Uncertain
Coach Mazzulla confirmed that Tatum will undergo an MRI on Tuesday. Only then will the team know how serious the injury is. For now, his availability for Game 5 remains doubtful.
Without Tatum, the Celtics just don’t look like the same team. The one that dominated the regular season with 60+ wins now looks shaky.
LeBron James Sends His Support
NBA star LeBron James also sent his prayers. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “Big Deuce,” referring to Tatum’s nickname. The respect between these two players — despite past playoff rivalries — was clearly visible in that moment.
What Now for the Celtics?
Some players still say there’s hope. But the reality is — if Tatum doesn’t return, Game 5 could be the end of Boston’s postseason.
Veteran center Al Horford summed it up best: “Right now, I’m more worried about Jayson than the game. We’ll figure the rest out, but I just hope he’s okay.”
What’s New:
- Jayson Tatum to undergo MRI for leg injury.
- His availability for Game 5 remains unclear.
- Celtics trail the Knicks 3-1 in the series.
- LeBron James showed support and concern for Tatum.