Jayson Tatum cleared one of the biggest emotional hurdles of his NBA career Thursday night, returning to Madison Square Garden for the first time since rupturing his right Achilles tendon there 11 months ago. But Celtics fans hoping to see him Friday won’t get that chance. The Celtics announced that Tatum is out for Boston’s home game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
After playing 15 games since his remarkable return just nine months after Achilles repair surgery, Tatum is reportedly not yet cleared to play in back-to-back games. What it means for Bostonâs playoff positioning â and how depleted the Pelicans are entering this matchup â adds another layer to the decision.
Tatum’s return to MSG saw mixed results, with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists in a season-high 40 minutes. But the four-time All-NBA first-teamer also shot a rough 7-of-22 with six turnovers, five on errant passes, according to a CelticsBlog report.
With Jaylen Brown sidelined Thursday, New York prioritized keeping Tatum outside the arc. The result? The Celtics fell 112-106, though as CelticsBlog writer Robby Fletcher noted, competing in that building at all was a feat, 333 days after suffering the most traumatic injury of his career on that exact floor.
Tatum acknowledged it took time to find his footing emotionally.
“It was a lot, especially in the beginning. It took me a while to calm down,” he said, as quoted by CLNS Media. “Today was important for me. I’m glad I did it. I feel a lot better, even though we lost.”
The MSG crowd gave Tatum a warm ovation during introductions. But on Friday, there will be no Tatum introduction, and the same holds true for no fewer than eight Pelicans players.
Tatum Out, Several Celtics on Injury Report
The official NBA injury report lists Tatum as out against New Orleans due to right Achilles repair management, the same restriction that kept him out March 30 in Atlanta, the second night of the Celtics’ previous back-to-back.
Jaylen Brown is questionable with left Achilles tendinitis. Sam Hauser (low back spasm), Derrick White (right knee contusion), and Neemias Queta (right toe sprain) are each listed as probable. This is the final back-to-back of Boston’s regular season. The Celtics sit at 54-26, needing one win or one Knicks loss to clinch the No. 2 seed in the East.
Pelicans Arrive in Boston Without Most of Their Roster
If the Celtics are shorthanded, the Pelicans are shell-shocked. All eight New Orleans players on the injury report are listed as out: Zion Williamson (right knee injury management), Trey Murphy III (right ankle sprain), Dejounte Murray (left hand contusion), Yves Missi (right hand/finger sprain), Bryce McGowens (right small toe fracture), and Karlo Matkovic (low back injury management) are all sidelined, as reported by Yahoo Sports. Saddiq Bey and Herbert Jones are listed as out for rest purposes.
At 26-54, a record that is the exact mirror image of the Celtics’ mark, New Orleans was eliminated from playoff and play-in contention some time ago. Sports Illustrated argued the Pelicans have put together the worst season in the NBA, regardless of record. With veterans shut down, Friday’s game is a road audition for New Orleans’ youngest players, a baptism of fire against a Celtics team with visions of NBA championship No. 19.
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