標籤: Jayson

The Boston Celtics got some terrible news about their top star just hours before a do-or-die Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Celtics 2025-26 season could surprisingly end in the opening round of the NBA Playoffs if they can’t figure out how to slow down the 76ers in the last two games and get a win at home tonight. Although they struggled in Games 5 and 6, there are still many who think they can pull out a win in Game 7.

However, the prospects for doing so have become increasingly difficult. According to Chris Haynes, “Jason Tatum has been downgraded to questionable for Game 7 tonight because he is dealing with knee stiffness.”

This is terrible news for Boston at the worst time. Still, it’s something the team should be concerned about in the long term, too. In recent days, there has been discussion about Tatum dealing with calf strain. Which makes sense because he made a surprisingly quick return to the floor from a torn Achilles in early March.

However, his knee problems are unexpected. Is this due to overcompensation as he builds confidence in his surgically repaired tendon? Damian Lillard and Tyrese Haliburton both suffered similar injuries during last year’s playoffs, and the pair missed the entire 2025-26 season.

Being doubtful does not mean that he will not be able to play Saturday’s match. However, the Celtics have lost by double digits in each of the last two games the six-time All-Star has been on the floor. It’s hard to imagine that they’ll be able to overcome a fully healthy Philly team without him tonight.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The Boston Celtics played well and snapped the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 12-game winning streak 119-109 to the applause of the crowd at TD Garden on Wednesday.

The Celtics won their fifth game in six contests and improved to 48–24, maintaining a chance to seize the top seed in the Eastern Conference from the Detroit Pistons.

Jaylen Brown led Boston with a team-high 31 points on 9-of-17 shooting. He also had eight rebounds, eight assists and two steals. Jayson Tatum also had an all-round performance of 19 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and three steals.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla praised Tatum’s effort and what he has brought to the table Since returning from his Achilles injury.

“He’s given us what the game needs. He’s helping us win. That’s the only thing that matters,” Majulla said in the post-game conference.

“His rebounding has been top-notch, his ball handling, the way he started the fourth quarter, scoring, managing the game, getting better shots, he’s playing the pick and roll. He’s giving the game what it needs, and that’s the most important thing.”

“He has given us what the game needs.”

Joe Majulla on the return of Jayson Tatum’s influence 👏

(via @danield1214) pic.twitter.com/UpsRyRqTEb

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 26 March 2026

When Mazzulla isn’t busy battling Derrick White in WWE, he’s focused on praising his players and putting them in position to succeed.

The 28-year-old Tatum has been nothing but impressive in his return to action. He returned well ahead of schedule, giving the Celtics an extra boost heading into the playoffs.

Most importantly, Tatum has willingly taken a back seat to Brown, who is having an MVP-type season.

In nine games, Tatum is averaging 19.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals in 30.1 minutes. Mazulla didn’t even need to put it in slowly.

The Celtics will face the Atlanta Hawks on Friday.

BOSTON — Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum was flying high and feeling heroic in June 2024 as he helped the Green team end a 16-year title drought and celebrated with a championship parade that he described as one of the greatest experiences of his life. After about a year, it was all over. The six-time All-Star suffered an Achilles injury during the 2025 NBA Playoffs in May and was robbed of his super power: excelling in the game he loves.

An advertisement from director James Gunn superman The film depicts this tragic decline brilliantly. Tatum starred in a promotional piece that aired during the 2025 postseason and wore the iconic “S” on his chest, tying to the feelings of hope and invincibility that Superman is famous for. In fact, the lead excerpt of the ad asked if Tatum could eventually fill in and become Superman:

Jayson Tatum to star in new James Gunn commercial #superman pic.twitter.com/Q4z4OqITDl

– Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) 8 May 2025

Unfortunately, Tatum’s untimely injury showed that he was not super-human after all, and Warner Bros. pulled the ad after his Achilles tear.

Jayson Tatum’s journey from hero to human and back again

Unlike the caped hero above, Tatum doesn’t have the luxury of being invincible. Given the fact that he had never missed more than 18 games in a single season until this year, he may have deceived the fans to some extent, however, his injury and the grueling rehab process that came with it reminded them that he is vulnerable.

“I didn’t know what it was going to be like,” Tatum said Sunday night after his recent return to the game. “You just want to be Jason Tatum and feel like yourself again. I’m not Superman, so obviously it’s going to take some time.”

Since walking out of the tunnel at TD Garden on March 6 to confirm his return from injury, Tatum has played brilliantly. He has scored in double figures in all eight of his contests this season and the Celtics have gone 6-2 when he has been in the starting lineup.

Jayson Tatum ran out of the TD Garden tunnel with the Jays thundering: pic.twitter.com/TJt8pnpOym

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 6 March 2026

However, that doesn’t mean his comeback has been seamless. The 2024 NBA champions shot less than 40% from the field during Sunday’s 102-92 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves and struggled in the first half before looking like themselves in the final 24 minutes of action.

“This is the first time I’ve been through something like this,” he said in the locker room. “I mean, it’s been a long time. It’s been a long time since I could shoot a basketball, before I could walk. So, just game by game, trying to knock the rust off. I’m getting great spurts and moments game by game and I’m trying to put more of them together.”

When he’s in true “Superman” form, Tatum is tearing up defenses with his passing, leaping for rebounds, and blasting past opponents like a speeding bullet. He had moments in March — including his 24-point performance against the Golden State Warriors or his clutch bucket in transition against the Phoenix Suns — when it seemed as if he had never been injured.

Joe Mazzulla on Jayson Tatum’s progress and the Celtics’ overall play tonight:

“He’s rebounding at a high level on both ends of the floor, playing at a fast pace, screening, making two-on-one reads.”

“He’s playing with a smile on his face.” pic.twitter.com/OnxFnFYM9X

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 19 March 2026

But, despite his gifts, Tatum has still experienced some parts where he looks a lot like Clark Kent, Superman’s human alter ego who can’t fly in the public eye. He missed 12 of his 15 shots in a tough win over the Memphis Grizzlies and, most recently, failed to find the bottom of the net in the first two quarters against the T-Wolves.

“It’s only my eighth game, so still trying to get a feel for it,” Tatum said.

Why does Jayson Tatum deserve patience?

While Tatum’s occasional struggles may be frustrating for Celtics fans, one detail of Superman lore is worth remembering: Clark Kent is still Superman. Superman’s suave, bespectacled face isn’t as much fun as him wearing a blue, red and yellow suit and flying through the sky, but he’s still the same person – and he’s still heroic.

This applies to Tatum because although the 4-time All-NBA First Teamer hasn’t always been at his best since suiting up again, it takes an almost super-human amount of strength to see the floor once again in less than 300 days from a painful injury.

“I had the worst injury I possibly could and I came back 10 months later [I’m] “Every game is getting a better experience,” he revealed.

So, even though Tatum may look more akin to Kent than Kal-El, remember what he had to go through to get to this point and that playing like a superstar after an Achilles rupture isn’t as easy as turning into a phone booth.

“I wanted to be perfect and like first-team All-NBA Jayson Tatum,” Tatum said, snapping his fingers. “But it will take time. I didn’t rush the rehab process, so I can’t rush it.”

Tatum could soon don his cape when the Celtics host the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who have won 12 consecutive games, on Wednesday night. But even if the 28-year-old has trouble against the league’s best team, it’s worth noting that progress in the NBA is rarely linear. There are often a lot of ups and downs involved, and Tatum may have to stumble again before he can really take off.

“It’s all going to work out,” he said.

The Boston Celtics have been up and down lately, losing at home to the Anthony Edwards-less Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday evening. It’s been some tough games for star Jayson Tatum, who recently suffered a brutal shooting night during a road win over the Memphis Grizzlies, and was ineffective once again in the loss to Minnesota.

However, one person who isn’t concerned with Tatum’s declining shooting numbers is former NBA wing Iman Shumpert, who took to ESPN to urge calm.

“I don’t think the Celtics should resort to feeling like this is a ‘make sure he fits in’ type of situation. … When May 1 comes, he’ll be ready,” Shumpert said, according to First Take on X, formerly of Twitter.

To reach May 1, the Celtics will have to get through the first round of the playoffs, which may not be an easy task considering the way some of the teams at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings are playing at the moment.

However, it is certainly unreasonable for fans to assume that Tatum will be able to regain his prime form immediately upon stepping onto the court following ten months of rehabilitation from his Achilles injury. Most importantly, Tatum has shown the ability to move relatively well laterally, and although he is still scratching the rust off his outside jumper, he seems to be fitting in well with his Celtics teammates so far.

Boston is currently the number two seed in the Eastern Conference, but they will have some work to do to stop the New York Knicks, who are playing their best basketball at the right time.

The Celtics take the field for a tough home game next Wednesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The fact that Jayson Tatum returned to the hardwood for the Boston Celtics even a year after rupturing his Achilles in the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs is such a huge win not only for the Celtics, but for the entire game. Tatum obviously isn’t fully back yet, but his mere presence makes the Celtics a more dangerous team than ever during the 2025-26 season.

There was a lot of hype surrounding Tatum’s return, as it had been rumored for almost the entire season that he might make his highly anticipated return sooner than many expected. But in his absence, Jaylen Brown has stepped up to become the team’s undisputed alpha, and he has more than risen to the occasion – averaging 28.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 55 games before Tatum’s return.

With Tatum out for so long, he needed to get back on the same page to help propel the Celtics to bigger and better things. That’s exactly what they did with Brown and Tatum close together He has his eyes on the same prize.

“It was great. The initial conversation, having that communication. … It’s important to be able to get back on the same page, but it’s going to take more communication as the year goes on. Things change, we got adversity, ups and downs. We just let it be me and you,” Brown told Vince Carter and the rest of the NBC crew.

Both of them have the responsibility of leading the team as co-stars and they have done it in the past. But the Celtics star refused to be satisfied just because they won a title just two years ago.

“Our communication sets the tone for the rest of the team. We both have to step up if we want this to work,” Brown said.

“We just said it would be me and you.”

Jaylen Brown talked about a meeting he had with Jayson Tatum and the rest of the Celtics team before Tatum returned to action. pic.twitter.com/tJvVgwoP9V

– NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) 22 March 2026

BOSTON — Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce grew up in downtown Los Angeles and was even a Lakers fan as a kid, but he didn’t hesitate to call Beantown home on Sunday afternoons.

“It’s always good to be back here,” he said, standing at the TD Garden after the Causeway Classic, a fan event presented by Ticketmaster. “This is home, so to be able to give back to the fans every time I come out, for what they’ve been able to do to support me in my career, it means a lot. At times like these you remember what you left for this building, for the city. And so I enjoy it every time.”

Back at the TD Garden I asked Paul Pierce:

“It’s home so to be able to give back to the fans every time I come out, for what they’ve been able to do to support me in my career, it means a lot. In times like these, you’re reminded of what you left in this building, for the city.” pic.twitter.com/T1LcMXGKIr

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 22 March 2026

Like Pierce, Boston wasn’t always home to Celtics stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

They were born elsewhere, yet unfamiliarity was not the only reason they were initially hesitant to embrace the city. Tatum, like Pierce, grew up a Lakers fan and dreamed that the Celtics’ hated rival would select him in the draft. Brown, meanwhile, was booed by Celtics fans on his draft night nearly 10 years ago for reasons beyond his control.

Despite these difficult introductions to Boston, Pierce has helped bridge the gap. As Tatum and Brown became superstars, the 2008 NBA Finals MVP supported them from afar and got to know them up close whenever he visited New England or when the Celtics traveled to LA.

“I’ve been happy for him since day one,” Pearce told ClutchPoints. “I’m always coming over and whenever they’re in Los Angeles, I try to watch their workouts… It’s just a brotherhood, no matter what the age difference is.”

The TD Garden crowd goes crazy for Paul Pierce (who is wearing gear from Jaylen Brown’s clothing line). pic.twitter.com/btTiFmEwAI

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 23 October 2025

Pierce is not the first Celtic to link up with the next generation of Green Teamers. He recalled that when he was playing more than a decade ago, Celtics legends like Bob Cousy and Jo Jo White would come to team practices. Those gestures did not go unnoticed, as Pierce said they were important to keeping the Celtics’ historic, winning culture alive.

“A lot of the former players were much older than me, but they always found a way to move forward and I try to do the same,” he said. “I try to maintain the heritage of Celtic culture by getting back into sports whenever I can.”

In addition to appearing in support of Tatum and Brown, Pierce has also spoken out. Whenever Boston’s dynamic duo draws the ire of the media — whether it’s in the form of arguments over fantasy chemistry issues or the constant comparison of the two stars — Pierce supports his guys.

“When I see things that I don’t think are right, I always call them out in the media because I feel like Boston players don’t get their due for the most part,” he revealed. “Brown not being in the Olympics, Tatum not getting minutes – I’m always advocating for them and rooting for them and fighting for them.”

It’s safe to say that Paul Pierce is excited to see Jayson Tatum play again:

“That’s bullshit. The ex is in trouble, you better be careful because here we come. Let’s figure it out.”

(via @paulpierce34 on IG) pic.twitter.com/Fzp1s576Wx

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 7 March 2026

Following their victory in a friendly 3-point contest on Garden Parquette as part of the Causeway Classic, Pierce will probably stick around to watch his pupils take the same floor in a few hours when they face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night. And it doesn’t matter if Pierce is sitting in a luxury suite or courtside, don’t be surprised if he gets to his feet to cheer on Tatum and Brown.

“I love seeing these guys succeed,” he said.

As Jayson Tatum recovered from his Achilles injury, every NBA superstar praised him. For Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, his reaction was no different.

That is his makeup. This is his DNA. That’s his perspective,” Booker said via AZCentral’s Duane Rankin on X (formerly Twitter). “Someone I’ve looked up to for a really long time since he was in 6th and 7th grade.

“I’m watching him grow into a champion. What he’s accomplished at such a young age is inspiring, even if it’s small. I’m happy to see him back out there.”

When Tatum first came out with an injury, many thought he would not return for the season. But as time progressed, it began to look more likely that the Boston Celtics forward would make his season debut in 2025-26.

But a few weeks ago, he was watching the Celtics beat the Suns 97-81 on Feb. 24. Now, Tatum will face off against Phoenix for the first time all year.

Devin Booker and Jayson Tatum share mutual respect

Both players were part of the 2024 USA Basketball men’s national team that captured the gold medal. Although Tatum didn’t get a lot of playing time, being a part of a roster like this is quite an accomplishment.

Booker, meanwhile, was the unsung MVP for that team, and something that the Boston star could have been for an Olympic team one day.

Either way, the focus remains on the 2025-26 season, and where the Celtics have a legitimate chance to win the Eastern Conference and make a run for an NBA championship.

While Devin Booker sang his praises for Jayson Tatum’s Achilles recovery, Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott made jokes for the Boston Celtics forward.

“I wish he wasn’t playing,” Ott joked on Twitter (formerly Twitter), via AZCentral’s Duane Rankin.

Even with the jokes, Tatum’s recovery was almost unprecedented, as most people thought he would not play in the 2025–26 season. Nevertheless, he came back at a very promising time.

The Boston Celtics are in second place in the Eastern Conference and have done a great job without Tatum. Guys like Jaylen Brown have been in MVP conversations, as well as potential Sixth Man of the Year, Peyton Pritchard’s play has improved.

Those two, the rest of the team and head coach Joe Mazzulla have held down the fort since Tatum was out. Now, the latter is finding its groove on the floor.

Still, keeping the six-time All-Star on the field as a threat is an entirely different game plan. Obviously, the numbers aren’t there, as he continues to recover and get back to real game-speed. The efficiency is not there, but it is something that will come at the appropriate time.

For Ott, the game planning looks much different than it did for the first time when the Suns and Celtics faced off. The Duke basketball standout is a nightmare for both sides.

Very big for a guard, very fast for a forward, seems like a good fit. As Phoenix tries to even up the season series, Monday’s game could be history repeating itself or a potential upset.

If Dejounte Murray and Jayson Tatum are any indication, an Achilles injury is no longer as career-threatening as it once was. Both Murray and Tatum are looking great upon their returns after long absences caused by rupturing their Achilles tendons; East, in particular, has shined for the New Orleans Pelicans and at least given them hope that they can bounce back next year amid a disappointing 2025-26 campaign.

Murray is coming off a 35-point night in a close loss to the Houston Rockets, and he was efficient too, making 14 of his 18 field-goal attempts on the night. Tatum’s shooting isn’t far behind, but he shot 20-14-7 in his latest outing.

While all fans are seeing is the result of their hard work, Murray had to emphasize that his and his partner Achilles’ path to survival is not as easy as it makes it out to be. During the rehab process, it appears that the bond he has formed with Tatum and Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, who is also rehabbing, has made it at least a little easier — as seen this exchange Under one of Murray’s posts on Instagram.

Achilles It’s great to see people supporting each other man pic.twitter.com/ndIZGPUMDi

– JB (@lockedupjb) 15 March 2026

Dejounte Murray, Jayson Tatum are signs of hope for Tyrese Haliburton

Murray was out for over a year recovering from injury and all that time spent on the sidelines must have been very tough for a man who likes the game early. Tatum is an anomaly, as he returned to play less than a year after rupturing his Achilles. But he seems excited for a Celtics team with new title hopes.

This gives so much hope for the Indiana Pacers that Haliburton can provide a similar response after his much-anticipated return. The Pacers are hoping to pick up where they left off in the 2025 NBA Finals upon Haliburton’s return, and the success stories of Murray and Tatum suggest it’s indeed within the realm of possibility.

On Thursday evening, the Boston Celtics will take on the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in a tough matchup. Jayson Tatum, Derrick White and Peyton Pritchard are suffering from various illnesses. Here’s everything we know about the injury status of Boston’s three most important players.

Watch NBA games live with fuboTV (Get access save $30)*

Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, Peyton Pritchard’s playing status vs. OKC

Jayson Tatum is currently listed as questionable on the injury report for the Thunder matchup due to ongoing Achilles injury management. Tatum has played in three games since returning from the Achilles tear he suffered in last year’s playoffs, and so far has performed about as well as fans have expected. Some have theorized that Boston may have kept him out of Thunder games to avoid playing against Lou Dort, who has gained a reputation for injuring opposing star players.

Peyton Pritchard is listed as probable for Boston due to neck spasms after missing his last game against the San Antonio Spurs, while Derrick White is considered questionable with a right knee injury.

Meanwhile, for the Thunder, Isaiah Hartenstein will be out of the lineup with a left calf injury, with Jalen Williams also out with a strained right hamstring.

The Celtics are currently ranked number two in the Eastern Conference, and have been playing well since Tatum’s return last week. In their last game against the Spurs, Boston saw star Jaylen Brown controversially ejected in the first half, and despite ultimately putting up a valiant effort, they ran out of gas during the game.

They will need all the help they can get against defending champions Thunder, who are back in form after a brief spell of trouble earlier this season.

Tipoff is scheduled for 9:30 pm ET.

The Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder are set for one of the biggest matchups of the season on Thursday evening. The Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, remain in the West standings as the regular season campaign concludes. Meanwhile, the Celtics are business as usual, with Jaylen Brown elevating his play to an MVP-caliber level. But the highly anticipated clash comes with a worrying injury report for the Celtics.

The Celtics released their injury report, with Jayson Tatum and Derrick White both questionable for the matchup. While White is dealing with a right knee injury, Tatum is managing his comeback from his right Achilles injury. While Tatum and White haven’t been completely ruled out, both of their losses could be a blow to the Celtics as they look to take on the reigning NBA champions.

Tatum has been effective in his return from his Achilles injury. Although obviously not putting up his typical MVP stats, he still averaged 19.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. He stepped up in a big way for Boston on Tuesday after Jaylen Brown exited the game late in the second quarter. Tatum had 24 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 125–116 loss in 27 minutes of play.

White has been a constant in the Celtics lineup. Playing 63 games this season, he has averaged 17.5 points, 5.7 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.2 steals per game. With both White and Tatum out of the lineup, getting a win in Thursday’s game against Oklahoma City could be a tough task.

Jayson Tatum criticized officiating after the Boston Celtics’ 125-116 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night, calling the refs “trigger happy” after teammate Jaylen Brown was ejected early in the game.

Brown was ejected after receiving two technical fouls during the contest, limiting the Celtics star to just 15 minutes of action. Tatum, who recently returned from an Achilles tear last spring, addressed the situation after the game.

“I disagree with that. You know, the NBA makes a big deal about prime time games and stars playing and being available… He was definitely pushed and maybe the first tech was necessary, the emotions were too high.”

Tatum continued to raise questions over the timing of his ejection during the nationally televised matchup.

“National TV game, the two best teams in the league and you make a big deal about the stars playing and you’re happy to take someone out of the game. I disagree with that.”

Brown’s frustration began after a sequence in which he believed he was fouled out of bounds by Spurs guard Stephen Cassel. After the game, Brown confronted crew chief Tyler Ford by pointing at him, causing the first technical foul.

“National TV game, the two best teams in the league and you make a big deal about the stars playing and you’re happy to take someone out of the game. I disagree with that.”

Jayson Tatum on Jaylen Brown’s ejection at Celtics-Spurs last nightpic.twitter.com/dzbBeYlm9v https://t.co/CjynsnpBNR

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 11 March 2026

The Celtics guard remained visibly upset and argued with officials as teammates attempted to calm him down. Umpire Suyyash Mehta later assessed a second technical foul, resulting in Brown being sent off.

Officials explain Jaylen Brown’s removal because Jayson Tatum disagreed

Brown finished the night with eight points, seven assists, two rebounds and one steal while making 4 of 8 shots from the field.

Ford later explained the officiating team’s decision in the league’s pool report.

“(The first technical was) for aggressively gesturing and using profanity and outrage without a call,” Ford said in the pool report, via NBA insider Brett Siegel for ClutchPoints. “(The second technical was called because) he aggressively approached a game official, pointing and using profanity.”

Tatum, playing his third game back from injury, led Boston with 24 points while adding five rebounds, two assists and two steals. The 27-year-old shot 10 of 24 from the field and 4 of 14 from three-point range in 27 minutes.

Despite Tatum’s efforts, Boston was unable to overcome Brown’s absence for most of the game. The loss dropped the Celtics to 43–22 on the season.

Boston will try to regroup on Thursday night when it concludes its three-game road trip against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who enter the matchup with a 51-15 record. Tipoff is scheduled for 9:30 pm ET on Prime Video.

The Boston Celtics have seen superstar Jayson Tatum bounce back from his Achilles injury in spectacular fashion, and it’s something that has impressed LA Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue.

Just 10 months after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in his right foot, Tatum returned to the court for the Celtics and played very well.

Tatum played surprisingly well in his return against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night, recording 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in 27 minutes of play. Tatum recorded his first bucket on a putback dunk in the second quarter, and followed it with a corner three-pointer on the ensuing possession.

In his second game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Tatum had 20 points, three rebounds and two assists in 27 minutes, including 12 points in the opening period.

LA Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue, who hails from Mexico, Missouri and actually calls St. Louis native Jayson Tatum his cousin, talked about the return of the former six-time NBA All-Star.

“I talked to him the night before [his return against the Mavs] And he was very excited,” Lue told ClutchPoints. “He’s very excited to get back on the field because he loves the game. Just happy for him. A tough recovery, 10 months of rehab, doing all the things to get back and he very easily could have just turned around and just waited until next year, but he wanted to be on the floor, he wanted to help his team win.

“Boston is second in the East and has a real chance to win another championship, so for him to come back and be on the court shows you a lot about who he is.”

During his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Tyronn Lue actually revealed that Tatum is someone he considers his little cousin.

“He’s my little cousin,” Lew said in a 2016 interview. “His dad, Justin Tatum, is Larry Hughes’ best friend and they come over all the time. They’re part of my extended family, Justin, so they come over all the time and it’s crazy seeing him from when he was six or seven years old to what he is today. Seeing the player he’s become, you knew he was going to be good, but now he’s at a whole new level.”

Without superstar Jayson Tatum, the Celtics compiled a 41–21 record in the first 62 games of the season. Since his return, the Celtics have won two consecutive wins without much difficulty. Boston is also currently only 2.5 games behind the Detroit Pistons, so the Celtics are a very real possibility.

Meanwhile, Tyronn Lue’s Clippers have continued to play well after starting the season with a dreadful 6-21 record. Since December 20, the three teams with the best records are the Boston Celtics (27–10), San Antonio Spurs (27–10) and LA Clippers (26–11).

“I just feel confident,” Lue said of his team’s goals this season. “I feel confident in our players, I feel confident in our coaching staff, and I feel confident in the environment and culture we’ve set. Why wouldn’t you want to play to win? That’s our mentality, that’s my mentality every night. No matter how hard it is, if you start 6-21 or whatever, you’re playing to win. We’ll try to make the playoffs and then anything can happen. Our goal is to make the playoffs.” Is.”

The Celtics and Clippers have already played their two games against each other, so Tatum and Lue won’t see each other again this season.

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum had to wait nearly 300 days to play in an NBA game after rupturing his Achilles in May. So, it is safe to say that he is enjoying life on the court, especially since his remarkable comeback has seen C go 2-0 up.

On Sunday afternoon, Tatum and company picked up a 109-98 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on the road. The six-time All-Star finished with 20 points, three rebounds and two assists in a nearly wire-to-wire win. And although Tatum missed seven of his nine attempts from deep, he nailed a wide-open triple with just 1:59 remaining in the fourth quarter to seal the Cavs’ first season sweep of the Celtics since the 2019-2020 campaign.

The Celtics are up by 9 and need to stop the bleeding…who else but Jayson Tatum

He still has to work on some things, but his confidence remains intact. When he saw an open space he called Ball without hesitation:
pic.twitter.com/XWtXgHnlyz

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 8 March 2026

“I can’t stress it enough, I’m just happy to be here and playing with the guys on the team, competing, making plays, making mistakes,” Tatum told ESPN’s Jorge Sedano in an interview after the game.

While Tatum continued to embrace regular season momentum, fellow Celtics star Jaylen Brown recorded a team-high 23 points with nine rebounds and eight assists. Boston’s third-leading scorer on the day was point guard Peyton Pritchard, who scored 18 points off the bench while shooting 58.3% from the field.

These were pretty normal outings for Brown and Pritchard, so Tatum wasn’t surprised by what they were able to do with the contending Cavs.

Tatum described Brown and Pritchard, saying, “They’ve been playing great all season.” “It’s been fun to watch from the sideline, and, like I said, I’m happy to be out there playing with them.”

to jayson tatum @celery About Jaylen Brown and Peyton Pritchard:

“They’ve been playing great all season. It’s been fun to watch from the sideline, and, like I said, I’m happy playing with them.” pic.twitter.com/eHq3sPwLQP

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 8 March 2026

With Tatum sidelined, the Celtics managed to go an impressive 41-21 this season. They now improve to 43-21 overall and are benefiting from his arrival on the court and in the standings, as the Celtics are 2.5 games behind the first-place Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference.

However, the Pistons hold the tiebreaker over the Celtics. Also, the C’s may have to face the league’s two best teams in consecutive games. They are now in Texas to meet the San Antonio Spurs 47-17 on Tuesday night and will soon have to fly to Oklahoma to take on the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday evening.

Regardless of the final scores of those games, Tatum is glad to be back doing what he loves.

“Very happy to be here,” Tatum reiterated with a smile Sunday.

The Boston Celtics have their superstar back in the lineup. Jayson Tatum was out of action for 10 months after suffering an Achilles injury, but a major recovery effort from the injury has allowed the Boston All-Star to return to the lineup.

With today being International Women’s Day, Jayson Tatum was asked about his mother’s influence on him:

“Often, I look up, and I see her in the crowd, she was just crying. Obviously, she was with me the whole way.

“So, for me, getting back on the court, obviously… pic.twitter.com/4dVzVnpcJ2

– Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) 8 March 2026

They made their return on Friday with a win over the Dallas Mavericks and they played their second game on the road against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. The hard-working Celtics dominated the game and won 109–98. They led by 26 points in the third quarter before head coach Joe Mazzulla’s team put them on cruise control.

Tatum played a key role in the win as he scored 20 points in 27 minutes of action. Fellow superstar Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 23 points.

Tatum’s mother Brandi Cole attended the game on International Women’s Day, and she credited him with playing a key role in his rise to prominence with the Celtics, as well as his comeback this year.

According to Celtics writer Bobby Krivitsky, Tatum said after the game, “Oftentimes, I look up, and I see her in the crowd, she was just crying.” “Just because, obviously, she was with me the whole way. So, for me to be back on the court, obviously makes my mom very happy, and to look up there and see her in the crowd is an incredible feeling.”

Tatum and the Celtics are back in action on Tuesday when they play another road game against the San Antonio Spurs. They remain on the road and meet the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday.

Derrick White offers his take on the chemistry between the Boston Celtics’ superstar duo Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

It’s been nine years since Tatum and Brown have been teammates since the 2017-18 campaign. They went on multiple playoff runs together, reached the NBA Finals twice and won a championship in 2024.

There has been much debate from media personalities over whether Boston should split the two, but the franchise has balked at keeping them together. So far, Tatum and Brown have kept the Celtics in serious contention. White agreed with this sentiment during his appearance on the White Noise Podcast on March 8.

“I think it’s just like the media is trying to start something. Now it’s like who’s the team, who’s 1A? I think they do a good job of not listening to it. I think obviously there are times when it’s annoying for them, but for me, it doesn’t matter to me. I don’t care. As long as we win, I don’t care who 1A and 1B are,” White said at 1:22. Said on the issue.

Jayson Tatum, how the Celtics played against the Cavaliers

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are back on the court together after returning from injury. The Celtics are now 2-0 since Tatum came back to beat the Cavaliers 109-98 on Sunday afternoon.

Five players scored in double figures for Boston in the win. Brown led the way with a stat line of 23 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. He shot 7 of 17 from the field, including 1 of 3 from beyond the arc, and 8 of 9 from the free-throw line. Tatum was next with 20 points and three rebounds, Peyton Pritchard had 18 points and seven assists, Baylor Scheierman had 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Sam Hauser scored 15 points.

Boston improved to a 43–21 record on the season and finished second in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the New York Knicks and Cavaliers while trailing the Detroit Pistons.

The Celtics will remain on the road and await their next matchup. They will face the San Antonio Spurs as tip-off takes place on March 10 at 8 PM ET.

On Sunday afternoon, the Boston Celtics continued their winning ways with a relatively comfortable road win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was the second game back from an Achilles injury for star Jayson Tatum, who scored 20 points in a defensive clinic for Boston.

Before tipoff, Cavs star James Harden hugged Tatum as he took the stage, and ESPN cameras caught Harden’s kind message to the Celtics star.

“Proud of you, brother. Congratulations,” said Harden, formerly of Ax, on Twitter, according to SportsCenter.

“Proud of you brother. Congratulations.” ❤️

James Harden makes a great gesture towards Jayson Tatum before the game as he completes his return from his Achilles injury 🙌 pic.twitter.com/f8nj1VUNed

– Sports Center (@SportsCenter) 8 March 2026

Tatum completed one of the quickest recoveries from an Achilles injury the NBA has ever seen, suffered during Boston’s playoff loss to the New York Knicks last May.

In his absence this season, the Celtics have been one of the most surprising stories in the NBA, currently sitting in the number two spot in the Eastern Conference, with Jaylen Brown receiving some minor consideration for the league MVP award for his play so far this year.

However, any legitimate chance the Celtics have to compete for a second championship in the modern era depends on the health of Tatum, who has looked solid so far in his two games since returning from injury. Although efficiency and explosiveness will need some time to return, Tatum’s shooting form certainly looks smoother than before the setback, and he has shown little hesitation in putting the ball on the floor and looking for his shot.

He also looks to be able to move his feet relatively well on the defensive end of the floor, even though it may take him some time to fully regain his athletic ability and burst.

In any case, the Celtics will next take the field on Tuesday evening for a tough road game against the San Antonio Spurs.

The Boston Celtics have played sensational basketball in that turnaround season, as superstar Jayson Tatum has recovered from an Achilles injury suffered in last year’s playoffs. Tatum returned to the Celtics lineup in Friday’s win over the Dallas Mavericks and he also made a solid contribution in Sunday’s 109-98 road win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Jayson Tatum on reintegrating with the Celtics:

“I would say it’s been seamless. I’ve played with most of these guys for a long time.”

“The hardest part for me is the minute restriction. That **** quite frankly sucks… Obviously, I understand the bigger picture.”

🎥:… https://t.co/qkqqRdjzYx pic.twitter.com/CKCKREnkkl

– Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) 8 March 2026

Tatum scored 20 points and partnered with Jaylen Brown (23 points) in the win over the Cavs. Boston led by 20 points at halftime and increased it to 26 points in the second half, before the Celtics won by double digits in the fourth quarter. Tatum played 27 minutes in the game and made 6 of 16 shots from the floor.

Tatum is very pleased with the progress he has made in his return to the Celtics. “I would say it’s been seamless. I’ve played with most of these guys for a long time.” Tatum said After the game. “The hardest part for me is the one-minute restriction. This nonsense quite frankly sucks. Obviously, I understand the bigger picture.”

The Celtics have 18 games left in the regular season for Tatum to fully acclimate to this year’s team. He should be at full speed by the time the postseason starts.

Tatum has always been the Celtics’ primary scorer throughout his career, but fellow star Jaylen Brown has been the team’s leader this season. One of the keys for the Celtics is how Tatum and Brown play off of each other from this point forward.

In addition to the two stars, the Celtics are getting huge contributions from Derrick White, Peyton Pritchard, Neemias Queta and Sam Hauser.

After the Boston Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference clash, Jayson Tatum got props from Donovan Mitchell and James Harden for recovering from his concussions, returning to the field and immediately making a big impact on the game.

“He looks good,” Mitchell said in his postgame interview following the Cavs’ 109–98 loss to the Celtics. “I think naturally there’s some hesitation. I mean, it’s been 300 days. But you can see how he started the game. Even the slow start against Dallas, it just takes a few moves — it could be an Achilles, a groin injury — you just need a few moves to be like, ‘Okay,’ and then you get back at it.”

“But he looks really good for someone [that missed] 10 months. It’s impressive.”

Tatum finished the game with 20 points, three rebounds and two assists to only one turnover in 27 minutes. He started the game by getting to his spot on the drive and finding his way to the free-throw line and, despite a slight cold, finished the day strong in the fourth quarter.

“Getting to your spots, making shots,” said Harden, who acknowledged Tatum before the matchup. “Obviously, it’s important for them to keep them in the mix, but they just do an incredible job of creating advantages; a well-coached team, and they played well today.

“I just told him, you look at a young guy, especially of that caliber, who has had a lot of success and won championships, and then, boom, adversity comes along. That mentality of not letting anything slow him down and stop him, and then he comes back, first game back, he plays well; tonight, he plays well. I think that’s a motivation in itself.”

Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson treated this meeting with the Celtics as if Tatum was fully healthy, admitting that it would be difficult to evaluate where he is now versus where he could be in a month or two in the postseason.

With this result, Boston increased its record to 43–21, and moved closer to the East’s top seed, the suddenly slipping Detroit Pistons. The Celtics added to their lead over Cleveland, now leading by four in the standings.

With Tatum back in the mix, and plenty of firepower around him and Jaylen Brown, there’s no telling how far they can take this. The Cavs will definitely be preparing for this.

“He changes the game,” Evan Mobley said. “He’s a great player. Instead of just focusing more on Brown, you have to focus on both now. It’s definitely a different dynamic, and we’ll be ready for it.”

Harden even said that Cleveland could look to Boston as a prime example of who it should aspire to be in the postseason.

“I told everybody, that’s the standard,” Harden said. “That’s standard. Part of the game of basketball is missing and making shots, but, like, our competitive nature to a game, our competitive spirit — whether we’re making shots or not — that’s what we do. And we forced the game to take over. And I think in the second half, we found something in ourselves.

“Being in my 10th or 11th game here, this is the level we’ve got to get to, Boston. And once we get there – because I know we’re good enough, we’ll get there – then we’ll be a better team. If we’re making shots, we’re going to shut teams out. Tonight we didn’t make shots, and we still gave ourselves chances. So it’s that simple.”

The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Boston Celtics for a primetime matchup on Sunday afternoon in the Eastern Conference.

The Celtics controlled the game from start to finish, in fact, outside of the Cavaliers’ early 8-point lead. The Celtics would bounce back quickly and take a 26-point lead in the third quarter. Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Peyton Pritchard are not going to let the Cavs come from behind to win games. The Celtics would hold on for a 109-98 victory as Cleveland would do everything possible to come back.

The Celtics are now 43-21 in the East, and the Cavs are 39-25, four games back and two games behind the New York Knicks. The C’s are now just three games behind the Detroit Pistons, who face the Miami Heat on Sunday.

Brown was the star of the game for the Celtics and had 23 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in the win. Brown is having one of the best seasons in Celtics history, and could be an MVP candidate by the end of the season.

In 27 minutes, Tatum scored 20 points on 6-16 shooting with three rebounds and two assists. The returning superstar scored 12 points in the first quarter and gave himself and the team a lot of confidence heading into that important match. The Celtics are 3-0 against Cleveland this season, and have won the season series, giving them the playoff tiebreaker over the Cavs if they need it.

Tatum hit a dagger triple at the end of the fourth quarter to secure the victory for the Celtics. The Cavs weren’t going out quietly, and the Celtics needed to hit a few more shots to stay put.

what goes up 🎯 pic.twitter.com/TNLwVXlUJC

– Boston Celtics (@celtics) 8 March 2026

With JT back, hitting shots like this could get the league in trouble. This Celtics team has been the better team in the Eastern Conference since 2021, and they have more experience than anyone in the East. Paul Pierce thinks his former Celtics will win the East this season with Tatum’s return.

“He’s back,” Pierce said in a sing-song voice while recording Tatum’s postgame interview. “The East is in trouble, you better be careful because here we come. Let’s figure it out.”

Nikola Vucevic’s injury is serious, but he will be back before the playoffs start. This Celtics team is very deep for Tatum, and as mentioned above, will benefit from experience.

The Celtics have owned the Cavs all season, and even though Cleveland will be a threat in the playoffs, they have shown no signs of being able to beat Boston in a 7-game series. The Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks are the only two real threats to the Celtics this season. If Boston is able to continue what they have, they could even pass the Pistons in the standings and steal home-court advantage from them. If Detroit loses to Miami on Sunday, the Celtics will remain just 2.5 games behind the East leaders.

This team faces two more big tests on the road next week against the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder. If the Celtics manage to win one of those two games, you can consider it a mini road trip win for them. If Boston wins both of those games, their NBA Finals chances will skyrocket. The C’s are already the clear favorite to win the East at every sportsbook.

If you remain skeptical of this Celtics team, you may want to think again.

Paolo Banchero praised Jayson Tatum after the Boston Celtics forward returned to action after suffering an Achilles injury during last year’s postseason.

Banchero shared the comments Saturday after leading the Orlando Magic to a 119-92 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 22-year-old forward finished with 25 points, 15 rebounds and three assists while shooting 10 of 18 from the field and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line in 35 minutes.

After the win, Banchero was asked about Tatum’s return to the court.

“It was great to see him out there. I just have to give him a lot of credit. I think his mentality was there from the beginning when he first got injured, I watched him over the summer and you could tell he was going to try to get back sooner than everyone thought. I didn’t know it would happen this season, but you could tell he was already working, even right after the injury.”

Banchero continued by emphasizing the challenge of returning from an Achilles injury and the impact of seeing Tatum back on the floor.

“So, it was great to see him out there and I think he’s an inspiration to everybody… Just for him to be completely recovered in front of the whole world and to come out and have a great game last night. It’s not easy to get over that injury, and I can only imagine how he had to deal with it mentally and all that stuff, but happy for him, man. Looking forward to getting down there against him. I think we’ll play Boston once again, see him in the playoffs, But yes, he is happy, for sure.”

Paolo Banchero praises Jayson Tatum as Celtics, Magic can meet again in playoffs

Tatum returned to the lineup in Boston’s 120-100 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night, helping the Celtics improve to 42-21, the second-best record in the Eastern Conference.

In his first game, the 28-year-old recorded 15 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and one steal, while shooting 6-for-16 from the field and 3-for-8 from three-point range in 27 minutes.

Banchero and Tatum share a connection dating back to their college careers. Both players starred at Duke University before entering the NBA, with Tatum playing one season for the Blue Devils in 2016–17 and Banchero following a similar path during the 2021–22 season.

The Celtics and Magic also met in last year’s postseason, when Boston defeated Orlando in five games during the first round.

With the Magic currently positioned in the Eastern Conference play-in race, a postseason rematch is possible. Orlando improved to 34-28 with Saturday’s win and the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. The Magic are tied with the Philadelphia 76ers for sixth place and one game behind the Toronto Raptors for the fifth seed.

Orlando will conclude its two-game road trip on Sunday night when it visits the Milwaukee Bucks (26-35) at 8:00 pm ET.

The Boston Celtics are scheduled to face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday at 1 pm EST. Although Jayson Tatum finally returned from his Achilles injury in the club’s 120-100 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night, we’re taking a look at Boston’s latest injury report to see if Tatum is there.

Tatum, who just turned 28, is not on the latest injury report for the Celtics’ contest against the Cavaliers. However, Nikola Vucevic (finger fracture) has been ruled out, while Baylor Scheierman (thumb fracture) is listed as available. The full report also includes John Tonje out due to his G League two-way contract.

“Nikola Vucevic – Out: right ring finger; fracture.
Baylor Scheierman – Available: Left thumb; fracture
John Tonje – Out: G League – Two Ways”

That means Jayson Tatum is set to play his second game of the 2025-26 campaign. His first appearance for the Celtics this season was quite successful. He finished the game with 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists while shooting 37.5% from the floor and 37.5% from beyond the three-point line.

It was a solid performance for the nine-year veteran. There were moments when it seemed like he was still shaking off the rust, but overall, it was a strong performance for Jayson Tatum. With Boston firmly in the Eastern Conference mix, Tatum has plenty of time to get things ready for the playoffs.

The timing of his return is ideal for the Celtics. Especially if Tatum can record career averages of 23.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per contest. He will have a chance to get back to form on Sunday against the Cavaliers.

BOSTON – Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum showed us the highest levels of recovery from an Achilles rupture, posting clips of him running again, dunking again and smiling again. He was also transparent about the physical and mental impact of this lengthy rehabilitation process, whether it was discussing his internal doubts about whether or not he should return or showing the world how terrible his ankle looked after surgery.

What Jayson Tatum’s foot looked like at the beginning vs. the end of episode 3 of “The Quiet Work”: pic.twitter.com/le4zub0Eiw

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 2 March 2026

That authenticity and vulnerability continued after Tatum’s victorious homecoming at the TD Garden on Friday night against the Dallas Mavericks.

“I was feeling really anxious,” Tatum revealed after his first game in nearly 300 days. “It has taken a long time to get to this point. Many nights and days I dreamed about this moment and the anticipation of the crowd. It has been 42 and a half weeks since I played in an NBA game.”

While the six-time All-Star could have played it cool, he gave real answers to the media and didn’t deny his nervousness.

“[I’m] Just trying to get caught up in the pace and everything,” he said. “I felt like I was a step behind or moving too fast.”

To start the game, Tatum failed to make his first six attempts from the field. A few shots fell short and one miss came when the 28-year-old missed an open dunk that would have sent the home crowd into frenzy:

The TD Garden crowd nearly exploded after this dunk attempt by Jayson Tatum: pic.twitter.com/rir8iKFmwE

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 7 March 2026

Clearly, Tatum still needs some time to get his feet under him (literally and figuratively). In addition to shooting, the Celtics forward moved the ball well and posted a game-high five assists in the first half. Generating those points for your teammates helped them get involved and, in turn, things started getting better.

“As soon as I relaxed a little bit, the game started to slow down,” he said.

This isn’t even an exaggeration, as Tatum made five consecutive shots after missing his first six. He even improved on his botched dunk by slamming home a missed triple from point guard Peyton Pritchard:

GO GET IT JT 🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/Tf8rLI6zcE

– Boston Celtics (@celtics) 7 March 2026

In a 120–100 win for the Celtics, Tatum finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists – just three assists short of a triple-double in his first NBA action since learning to walk again. And while he didn’t have a spotless offensive night, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla didn’t care.

“When he was 100% healthy, he had missed six shots in a row before, so I don’t think it really mattered,” he said. “What I liked is just his attitude and he continued to rebound. I thought he competed on the defensive end… I think he had three assists, two rebounds before he even took his first shot.”

What Jayson Tatum’s teammates and opponents thought about his comeback

Although Tatum is still not his usual self, the Celtics were happy to see him there, cheering him on from the bench and hugging him when he left the game.

“I appreciate him being able to put himself on the line a little bit to come back and be a part of something big,” Celtics star Jaylen Brown said in the locker room. “I think that’s his mentality. I appreciate it. I know the organization appreciates it because he didn’t have to do it and nobody pressured him, but he wanted to be there.”

If it was for tonight, what would be the start for Jayson Tatum: pic.twitter.com/GqPRgXupfz

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 7 March 2026

Would Tatum like being 100% away from the field in his debut? Absolutely. But he understood why this was not realistic and stressed how fortunate he felt to be eligible for the green team again.

“When you take a long time off, you’re anxious, you want it really bad,” he said. “And, obviously, I wanted to hit every shot I took. But I was just really grateful. I had a real feeling of gratitude to get back on the floor and play basketball again, and it brought me back to everything I’ve gone through over the last 10 months, and the fact that I was even able to get there today was a really big win for me.”

The next phase of Tatum’s recovery process, which isn’t really over, takes place on the road. The Celtics have three games in a row against some of the best teams in the league: the Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs and defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

To call this a litmus test would be taking it lightly. However, Tatum had already played 27 minutes against the Mavericks and despite his Achilles, he was not a kid at all.

This should be a good sign for the Celtics, and a bad sign for the rest of the NBA.

Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd praised him in his postgame press conference, “The pace he came back, the way he looked, coming off a serious injury, he looked good.” “As soon as he shakes off some of the rust, he makes the Celtics a contender and they had a tough year when he was rehabbing, so to get him back, they’re going to be a team that’s going to be tough to knock out.”

The Dallas Mavericks faced the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on Friday night in a game that held personal significance for rookie forward Cooper Flagg. While Dallas lost 120-100, that night meant more than the score for the 19-year-old Maine native, who played his first professional game in Boston against someone he has idolized for years, Jayson Tatum.

Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft, received an unusual welcome during pregame introductions. Boston fans, who typically criticize opposing starters at TD Garden, instead greeted the rookie with loud cheers. This reaction surprised Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd. Many family members and friends from Maine were in attendance near the flag for the homecoming game.

Facing Tatum added emotional weight to the matchup. Flagg grew up watching the Celtics and followed Tatum’s development closely, including his college career at the Duke Blue Devils under coach John Scheyer. Flagg also played one season at Duke before entering the NBA.

“It was unbelievable. There’s a lot of levels to it,” Flagg said after the game when asked about playing against Tatum. “He’s someone I’ve idolized growing up, watching him come up through the ranks and ranks. I’ve watched him at Duke, and have been inspired to follow in his footsteps and play [Jon] Scheyer, and then obviously getting into the league is just unrealistic. It was really special for me to have this experience tonight.”

Sharing with Cooper Flagg/Tonight Jayson Tatum on the reception from the Boston/Maine crowd:

“There are so many levels to it. He’s a guy I idolized growing up…to see him at Duke and follow in his footsteps…it’s surreal. It’s really special for me to get this… pic.twitter.com/jq2CMbYptK

– Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) 7 March 2026

The rookie finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists in 30 minutes, but his efficiency wasn’t there, shooting 7 of 23 from the field and 0 of 4 from three-point range. He also committed three turnovers and had a minus-17 rating. The performance came just two games in after an eight-game absence due to a left medial sprain and returned for the second consecutive night.

Although his numbers were modest, Flagg continued to carry a heavy workload for Dallas. The 6-foot-9, 205-pound forward often serves as the team’s point-forward, running several offensive sets despite the Mavericks’ 21–42 record.

Tatum’s return to action was another major storyline. Playing his first game since rupturing his Achilles tendon last May, he finished the night with 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in 27 minutes, and shot 6 of 16 from the field.

Next, the Mavericks will travel to Toronto to face the Raptors on Sunday, while the Celtics will visit Cleveland to face the Cavaliers.

The energy inside the TD Garden on Friday night was unlike anything the Boston Celtics had experienced all season. After a grueling 10-month absence due to an Achilles injury, Jayson Tatum finally made his long-awaited season debut, and it felt like the missing piece of the puzzle was back in place.

While fans were losing their minds, Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla offered an especially profound perspective on this moment. Reflecting on his superstar comeback journey, Mazzulla said these are career-defining moments. “That’s why you coach,” Mazzulla said. “Being a part of someone else’s story and having someone be a part of your story.”

“This is why you train… to be a part of someone else’s story and for someone to be a part of your story” 🙌

Joe Mazzulla reflects on being part of Jayson Tatum’s journey as he works to return from injury. pic.twitter.com/O3dI4ZE5XJ

– NBA TV (@NBATV) 7 March 2026

Jayson Tatum really reminded the league what they’re missing. Tatum logged 27 minutes and looked remarkably sharp, scoring 15 points on 6-of-16 shooting. He demonstrated his trademark versatility by adding 12 rebounds, seven assists and one steal, helping the Boston Celtics demolish the Dallas Mavericks in a 120–100 blowout. His rhythm appeared seamless, especially from the perimeter where he knocked down three triples.

The supporting cast ensured that Tatum’s return ended in a “W.” Jaylen Brown led all scorers with 24 points, while Neemias Queta
Reinforced the interior with 16 points and 15 rebounds. Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg, on the other hand, finished with 16 points in his homecoming, but was no match for Boston’s new team.

The road back for Tatum was filled with tough rehabilitation and mental hurdles, but Friday night proved he hasn’t lost a step. With their cornerstone in place, the Celtics are not only looking toward a deep playoff run, but they’re also looking to the rafters.

Jayson Tatum is back in action, and fans are in championship excitement after his season opener in the Boston Celtics’ game against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night.

Tatum tore his Achilles in last year’s playoff series against the New York Knicks in the East Semifinals. After 10 months of rehabilitation, he successfully returned to court.

In 27 minutes of action, Tatum completed a major step in his recovery. He finished with a stat line of 15 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and one steal. He made 6 of 16 shots from the field, including 3 of 8 from beyond the arc.

It didn’t take long for fans, who had high expectations on the Celtics’ championship potential, to respond to the performance. Here are some of their reactions.

NBA insider Brett Siegel wrote, “What a great debut for Jayson Tatum, as he had 15 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists in exactly 27 minutes on the night against the Mavs. The Celtics star had a strong performance in his first game since tearing his Achilles in May.”

“Seeing Tatum back on the court is one of those iconic moments that will stick with me for the rest of my life. On behalf of basketball fans around the world, welcome back JT!” one fan said.

Another commented, “I couldn’t have imagined the reality of being a Celtic fan tonight even in my dreams.”

“Highlights: 1. Bible Belt. 2. Flagg stuck in NGL Dallas. 3. Tatum double double. 4. We’re back,” one commented.

One replied, “All it took was one try to get him to start cooking, my goat is really back.”

Jayson Tatum, how the Celtics played against the Mavericks

Jayson Tatum played brilliantly and the Celtics defeated the Mavericks 120–100 in a home win.

Six players, including Tatum, scored in double figures for Boston in the win. Jaylen Brown led the way with 24 points and seven rebounds, Derrick White had 20 points and four assists, while Payton Pritchard provided 18 points and seven rebounds.

Boston improved to a 42–21 record on the season and finished second in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers while trailing the Detroit Pistons.

The Celtics will look forward to their next matchup while on the road. They will take on the Cavaliers as tip-off takes place on March 8 at 1pm ET.

Fans went wild after Jayson Tatum attempted a one-handed dunk during his season debut in the Boston Celtics’ matchup against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night.

Tatum finally made his long-awaited debut on March 6. This occurred approximately 10 months after tearing his Achilles in Game 4 of the 2025 East Semifinals against the New York Knicks.

Tatum missed the first 62 games of the season, leaving him with 20 games left to potentially participate. Making his debut against Dallas, he attempted a one-handed dunk in the opening minutes of the second quarter. Even though the rim rejected him, the fans in attendance were happy to see him use that burst of athleticism to improve his health.

TD Garden was almost destroyed after this dunk attempt by Jayson Tatum 👀🗣️

pic.twitter.com/mAajlxH7W

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 7 March 2026

The primary storyline heading into Friday night’s game between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks is the return of superstar Jayson Tatum after tearing his Achilles 10 months ago. The Celtics are hoping to have Tatum back in the lineup for the final 20 games of the season so that they are in a position to compete for an NBA title with their entire team when the playoffs begin. The other story is that Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg will get a chance to play on the same court as Tatum for the first time in his career.

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd on Cooper Flagg’s excitement for today’s game:

“He mentioned Tatum as one of the guys he looks up to.”

“It is not easy to play against this team, because they understand big games and big situations, and so it is a big challenge.” pic.twitter.com/taU0G38zwk

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 6 March 2026

Flagg grew up in nearby Maine, and he regularly followed Tatum in his formative years because he admired the way the Celtics superstar played the game.

Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said Flagg is excited to play in Boston against a player he has followed for several years. “He mentioned Tatum as one of the guys he looks up to,” Kidd said during his media availability before Friday’s game. “It is not easy to play against this team, because they understand big games and big situations, and so it is a big challenge.”

Flagg and the Mavericks come into the game as 14.5-point underdogs against the Celtics. The rookie is averaging 20.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and is recovering from a recent foot injury. The No. 1 pick in last year’s draft has shown that he will likely be a superstar in the coming seasons.

Tatum is scheduled to play his first game since suffering an injury in last year’s second-round playoff game with the New York Knicks. He is a six-time NBA All-Star and partnered with Jaylen Brown to lead the Celtics to the 2024 NBA Championship. Tatum is averaging 23.6 ppg over his eight-year career.

Jayson Tatum is back. One of the game’s brightest stars and reigning NBA champion is ready to return to the court after suffering a severely torn Achilles tendon during last season’s playoffs. Tatum is back after 11 months as the Boston Celtics are the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and look to make another serious run at the NBA Finals.

Even with all the hype surrounding Tatum’s return, there is still a lot of work to be done. The Celtics hosted the Dallas Mavericks after a bad loss to the Charlotte Hornets. Tatum wouldn’t have returned if he didn’t feel 100% ready to make a serious impact. It may take some time to get back to what they were before the injury. But after we all watched him struggle in the early stages of rehab, you know Tatum is happy to get back to doing what he loves.

Tatum took the field Friday night and responded with an “I’m excited” message as he walked down the hallway toward the locker room.

“How does it feel to be back JT?”

“I’m excited.”

Celtics star Jayson Tatum arrives before his first game after tearing his Achilles in the Eastern Conference Semifinals 😊🍀

(via @ESPN)pic.twitter.com/9UDZr7LYnz

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 6 March 2026

ClutchPoints’ Celtics reporter Daniel Donabedian wrote that Tatum’s return would make life easier for the Celtics. Sam Howser told them Tatum would fit right back in.

“He’s been around [practice]So I think he’ll be able to fit right in,” he said. “We’ll be able to fit around him.”

BOSTON – Dozens of media members crowded around the practice court’s baseline at the Auerbach Center on Friday morning, hoping to catch a glimpse of Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, who was officially upgraded to questionable after being listed out (due to an Achilles rupture) for the Green team’s first 62 games of the 2025-26 campaign. However, Tatum remained in the weight room and largely out of sight of the many cameras aimed at him.

Jayson Tatum talks to Derrick White while working out at the Auerbach Center: pic.twitter.com/LZUnypLOOa

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 6 March 2026

Celtics wing Sam Houser was the journeyman in the media arena. He was immediately mobbed by reporters eager for any updates on Tatum ahead of the Celtics’ Friday night showdown with the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden. Although Houser didn’t say whether Tatum would play in less than 12 hours, he did praise him.

“Obviously he’s a really great player, great guy,” he told the media. “He does a lot of things on the basketball court that are very difficult, but he makes it look really easy.”

Sam Hauser on Jayson Tatum and what he could add to the Celtics this season:

“He takes a lot of things on the basketball court that are hard, and makes them look very easy.” pic.twitter.com/wuOsnvHs5c

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 6 March 2026

Without Tatum, the Celtics have posted a 41–21 record and are in second place in the Eastern Conference. These facts alone make it an impressive season for the C’s, but as always, they want a ring – and for that they need their missing piece.

“We only have 20 games left, so whenever that happens, it’s going to be a quick process,” Hauser said of reinserting Tatum into the lineup. “And as much grace as you want for that, we really don’t have that luxury.”

Returning from an Achilles injury is no joke in the NBA, and returning so late in the regular season presents another unique challenge. However, Hauser was not too concerned about acclimating Tatum.

“He’s been around [practice]So I think he’ll be able to fit right in,” he said. “We’ll be able to fit around him.”

There is no precedent for a second-place team adding a six-time All-Star to its roster in the midst of a playoff push. Hauser, like many of his peers, welcomed the relatively new obstacle.

He said, “We all have to figure it out right away, and it’s a good thing for us to solve the problem whenever it comes up, and sort things out on our own.” “But I think, overall, it’s positive.”

For now, Tatum is still questionable, but it’s worth noting that he said months ago that he planned to come back from the injury at home. Following Friday’s home game against the Mavericks, the Celtics will embark on a three-game road trip and will not return to Beantown until March 14.

Whether or not Tatum returns home soon, or whether he gets back on the court at all, won’t affect Hauser’s high opinion of him.

“He’s humble in who he is, his approach every day,” Hauser complimented. “He works hard, gets himself treated, he’s a good person, he’s a good father. I think that says a lot more than just the player.”

The Boston Celtics got a big boost on Thursday when it was revealed that Jayson Tatum will not only return from injury this season, but there is also a possibility that he will play in the team’s game against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. However, one of the more surprising aspects of Jayson Tatum’s injury return is the suggestion that it will create a power struggle between him and Celtics co-star Jaylen Brown.

During a recent episode of ClutchScoops, ClutchPoints’ own NBA insider Brett Siegel explained why there will be no such power dynamic between Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown upon the former’s return to the Celtics lineup.

“I think there’s a common misconception about, ‘Oh, this is Jaylen Brown’s team now, and Jayson Tatum has to work his way back,'” Siegel explained. “I don’t think it’s a problem because Jayson Tatum is arguably the best plug-and-play star in this league given his skill-set. He’s not a guy that demands the ball a lot of times. Honestly, he was a very good facilitator last year. I think that was one of the most underrated aspects of his game.”

Siegel highlighted how Tatum has already deferred to Brown several times, particularly during the team’s 2024 championship run when Brown took home Finals MVP honors.

Brown is enjoying an MVP-caliber season in Tatum’s absence, and given that he is taking on a larger role, his increased usage was expected. With Tatum returning, some additional pressure has been taken off the Browns.

Both the players have proved that they can live with each other. Doubts over whether the pair could win together should have been put to rest after the 2024 title.

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum may be close to making his return to the lineup, and former Celtics center Kendrick Perkins believes the rest of the league should take notice.

Tatum was upgraded to questionable ahead of Boston’s Friday matchup against the Dallas Mavericks, the first time he has earned that designation this season since suffering an Achilles injury last year. The development has sparked renewed discussion about Boston’s championship outlook as the forward moves into the final stages of his recovery.

Perkins addressed Tatum’s potential return during the latest episode of The Road Trippin’ Show, explaining that he believes Boston becomes significantly more dangerous once the All-Star forward re-enters the rotation.

“If you hear Tatum coming back you have to be scared. They’re playing with house money. They have the most championship experience in the Eastern Conference. If I’m Tatum, and these five-on-fives are going well, damn it, I’m coming back. Because look every player is different. I’m not blaming it on the players, but as we all know as athletes when you get injured, as a player you “Being aware of who you are, accountability and what you do and what you put into your body speeds up the healing process.”

Perkins also shared details he said came from Celtics assistant coach Sam Cassell regarding Tatum’s approach to rehab.

“There are two things I know about Jason Tatum: He doesn’t smoke and he doesn’t drink. Sam Cassel told me during this whole process that they literally had to tell him no, you can’t come today. Give us Sunday off. We’ve been with you six days a week, twice a day. You can’t come today.”

Celtics call Jayson Tatum ‘most dangerous team’ as he nears return

Perkins concluded by emphasizing how motivated Tatum could be to see Boston continue to compete near the top of the Eastern Conference standings.

“This team feels like they can go and they’ve got a chance. It’s unexpected when you have that window. Jayson Tatum is on the outside looking in, he’s eager to get back on the floor. They’re the most dangerous team in the league.”

Tatum finished the 2024–25 season averaging 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, six assists and 1.1 steals per game, while shooting 45.2% from the field and 34.3% from 3-point range in 72 appearances. He averaged 36.4 minutes per contest before suffering an Achilles injury during Boston’s second-round playoff loss to the New York Knicks last May.

Despite Tatum’s absence this season, Boston remains among the top teams in the conference. Jaylen Brown has led this effort, and has had a career-best campaign, guiding the Celtics to a 41-21 record and the No. 2 seed in the East.

Brown averaged 28.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, five assists and one steal per game, while shooting 48% from the field and 34.8% from 3-point range in 55 games.

The Celtics will look to bounce back from Wednesday’s 118-89 loss to the Charlotte Hornets when they host Dallas on Friday at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN. Boston will then begin a three-game road trip against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET on ABC.

With Tatum’s potential return, Boston’s postseason outlook could soon take another significant step forward.

On Thursday, the NBA world was shocked when Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum was upgraded to questionable for the team’s upcoming game against the Dallas Mavericks. Tatum has not played yet this season as he recovers from an Achilles injury suffered in last year’s playoffs, and if he plays on Friday, it will be one of the quickest recoveries the league has ever seen.

Recently, NBA legend Carmelo Anthony adopted 7pm in Brooklyn Podcast to describe how he thinks Tatum should approach his return, now that Jaylen Brown has taken over as the team’s leader this year.

“Now it’s like JT, what are you going to sacrifice? But now I’ve held down the fort for you and the entire organization. JT has to be very mature about this situation. This is no ego, no pride. We got a chance to come back and win a championship. So I have to put my pride and ego aside for the next 3 months and let JB continue to steer the ship,” Anthony said.

One person who doesn’t agree with those comments is Tatum’s trainer, Drew Hanlen.

“The irony of Carmelo Anthony trying to tell Jayson Tatum how to win…” Hanlen, formerly of the Ax, wrote on Twitter.

In fact, Tatum already has a far more accomplished postseason resume than Anthony has accomplished in his career, though he was certainly drafted under very different circumstances.

Ironically, Anthony’s arrogance was seen as a negative trait throughout his career, as his tendency to dominate the ball in halfcourt settings was often at the expense of his teammates’ shots.

Still, there will clearly be an adjustment period for the Celtics as Tatum takes the court, and it will be interesting to see how Brown’s usage is affected by the return.

The Mavericks and Celtics are scheduled to tip off on Friday at 7:00 PM ET.

Lately, there has been a lot of discussion about the changing dynamics within the Boston Celtics. Much of it revolves around the return of Jayson Tatum to what is otherwise known as Jaylen Brown’s team.

ESPN has joined the debate over whether this is Brown’s team or Tatum’s. That debate has deeply concerned media personality and longtime Celtics fan Bill Simmons.

He met Stephen A. An image from ESPN’s first take with Smith, Jay Williams and Chiney Ogwuemeke “Are the Celtics Brown’s or Tatum’s team?” Posted under the title. Simmons posted four crying emojis.

😭😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/ueeWtOqHA7

– Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) 5 March 2026

Tatum is out this season due to an Achilles injury after last season. It has been reported that Tatum will return this Friday when the Celtics play the Dallas Mavericks.

Meanwhile, Boston is doing really well. They have won seven of their last 10 games and are in second place in the Eastern Conference at 41-20. Refuting the adage that Boston would be in the tank without Tatum.

Jaylen Brown has carried the team on his shoulders. He is the leading scorer with an average of 28.9 points per game. Additionally, he averages 7.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.

Tatum and Brown played key roles in the Celtics’ 2024 NBA championship. Brown won MVP honors after averaging 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists in six games.

Meanwhile, Tatum averaged 22.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.2 assists.

The two combined to win the deciding Game 5, 106–88. Tatum led with 31 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds. Brown scored 21 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out six assists.

Boston Celtics star forward Jayson Tatum is aiming to return on Friday against the Dallas Mavericks after being upgraded on the team’s injury report for the first time all season.

He is officially listed as questionable to play against the Mavs.

Tatum, who has been working extremely hard to make his comeback from an Achilles injury suffered in last year’s playoffs against the New York Knicks, will now give the Celtics a huge boost a month before the end of the 2025-26 regular season.

Many were wondering when this moment would come for the 28-year-old superstar and now the answer has been found.

Friday will mark 298 days since Tatum suffered an Achilles injury in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Knicks, a moment that changed the trajectory of the Celtics franchise as we knew it. However, Tatum immediately dedicated himself to coming back stronger than ever, and his goal was always to return during the 2025–26 season.

After recently being cleared for full contact in 5-on-5 scrimmages and practice, it was only a matter of time before Tatum got the green light. When he steps onto the court for the first time this season on Friday at TD Garden, Tatum will face a very strict minutes restriction from head coach Joe Mazzulla and the medical staff.

Tatum recently took to social media after passing the 40-week mark in his recovery process, leading many to wonder if his season debut was imminent.

“40 weeks,” Tatum wrote. “I have really grown to appreciate this journey and have found time to pat myself on the back for doing well every day!”

Without Tatum this season, many expected the Celtics to take a step back, but All-Star wing Jaylen Brown has put this franchise in a position to compete for a championship, especially with his partner in crime back.

Brown has cemented himself in the MVP discussion this year, and he has led the Celtics to a 41-21 record ahead of Friday’s showdown with Dallas. Boston currently holds sole possession of the 2-seed in the Eastern Conference and is five games behind the Detroit Pistons for the top spot in the standings.

While he’s still technically listed as questionable for Friday’s game against the Mavs, all signs point towards the Celtics making it official and Tatum’s season debut to what will be a thrilled and sold-out crowd in Boston.

Tatum is back for the Celtics.

As Jayson Tatum prepares to return to the lineup for the Celtics, there is a growing group of NBA prognosticators who believe he will need to sideline Jaylen Brown for the team to be successful. Although the Celtics lost to the Hornets last night, they are still in second place in the Eastern Conference. They are 41-21 this year, two games ahead of the New York Knicks in the loss column.

on the latest episode of 7pm in BrooklynNBA Hall-of-Famer and nba on nbc Studio analyst Carmelo Anthony gave his opinion on the conversation surrounding Brown’s return, saying that Tatum needs to take a back seat to his All-Star teammate.

“For so long JB has sacrificed everything. Now it’s like JT, what are you going to sacrifice? But now I’ve held down the fort for you and the entire organization. JT has to be very mature about this situation. This is no ego, no pride. We got a chance to come back and win a championship. So I have to put my pride and ego aside for the next 3 months and let JB continue to steer the ship.”

Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix made a similar comment on Wednesday, saying, “I think [Jayson] Tatum knows that by coming back he is stepping into Jaylen Brown’s team. Brown is a top five, top six MVP candidate this year. He has put this team on his back aggressively. And Tatum will have to find a way to fit in.

In 55 appearances this season, Jaylen Brown has averaged 28.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5 assists per game, while also recording a steal per contest. He is shooting 48% from the field and 34.8% from beyond the arc. Brown has been a driving force behind the success of the Boston Celtics, helping keep them firmly in the championship conversation.

Still, if Jayson Tatum returns to full strength, the Celtics will be a formidable team regardless of who rules each game. Over 72 games during the regular season, Jayson Tatum averaged 26.8 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists per contest, while shooting 34% from three-point range. During that period, Tatum continued to develop into a high-level playmaker, someone who was able to generate scoring opportunities for his teammates while also being offensive for himself.

Tatum will certainly demonstrate his fit with the team when he returns to the lineup on Friday against the Mavericks.

Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown has led his team to one of the best records in the NBA this season without Jayson Tatum, which for JR Smith means this is no longer Tatum’s team. With Tatum’s potential return to the Celtics, many wonder how Boston will adjust to Jason Tatum’s midseason debut.

while brown have been leaders For the Celtics this season, that’s been their title for Jaylen for years, Smith said, according to To The Baha.

“It’s always been his team. Jaylen Brown. He’s the leader. Isn’t he? First of all, he protects everybody. It’s always been his team. It’s his team,” Smith said. “To the players, I’m sure it’s their team; to everyone else in the media on the outside, it’s Jayson Tatum’s team. That’s the way they want to show it. Internally, it’s Jaylen Brown’s team.

“Jaylen Brown is the leader of that team. 100 percent on and off the court. Fact. I guarantee you he commands more film sessions, practices than JT. He’s the leader of that team.”

“It’s always been his team. Jaylen Brown. He’s the leader. Isn’t he? … To the players, I’m pretty sure it’s his team; to everybody else in the media on the outside, it’s Jayson Tatum’s team.”

– JR Smith 🤔

(via @ToTheBaha)pic.twitter.com/mnELzcwFk9

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 4 March 2026

In Brown and Tatum’s second NBA Finals appearance in two years, Brown won the 2024 Finals MVP award after capturing his first title.

NBA insider says Jayson Tatum will need to adjust to new Celtics

NBA insider Chris Mannix believes the Celtics are Jaylen Brown’s team who will have to accommodate Jayson Tatum if he returns from his nearly season-long Achilles injury. Tatum has to do it slowly work your way back Mannix said, according to FanDuel TV’s Run It Back, linking up with the Browns and the Celtics.

“I think [Jayson] Tatum knows that by coming back he is stepping into Jaylen Brown’s team. “Brown is a top-five, top-six MVP candidate this year,” Mannix said. “He’s put this team on his back offensively.” And Tatum will have to find a way to fit in.

This is Jaylen Brown’s team now 👀

With the pending return of Jayson Tatum, @SIChrisMannix I don’t think there is a chemistry problem.

Tatum knows this is Brown’s team. pic.twitter.com/wgMkvmJHDF

– Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) 4 March 2026

In 54 games played, Brown is averaging 29 points per game, 7.1 rebounds and 5 assists per game with one steal. He is shooting 48% from the field and 34.9% from three-point range. He has been the catalyst for the Celtics’ success as they have kept themselves in the news as NBA title contenders.

Celtics star Jayson Tatum’s recovery from injury is nothing short of a medical miracle. Tatum tore his Achilles tendon during the Celtics’ second-round matchup against the New York Knicks in the 2025 playoffs. Injuries typically keep players from recovering from a full season, but Tatum is determined.

Videos have surfaced of the six-time All-Star doing vigorous workouts, and NBC even produced a miniseries highlighting his recovery journey. It appears he is ready to take the court again this week, as he is set to make his highly anticipated return on Friday against the Dallas Mavericks.

Tatum’s return adds to the unprecedented season the Celtics spent without their star. The Celtics are currently second in the East at 41–20, as many NBA fans and forecasters believe that they will not be true contenders without Tatum being active on the roster. Jaylen Brown has emerged as a potential MVP contender and has added potential to the team.

While it’s certainly a plus that Tatum is returning to the lineup, Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix believes Tatum will have to make a big adjustment to the team and emerge as Jaylen Brown’s first option.

“I think [Jayson] Tatum knows that by coming back he is stepping into Jaylen Brown’s team. Brown is a top five, top six MVP candidate this year. He has put this team on his back aggressively. And Tatum will have to find a way to fit in.

In 54 games played, Brown is averaging 29 points per game, 7.1 rebounds and 5 assists per game with one steal. He is shooting 48% from the field and 34.9% from three-point range. He has been the catalyst for the Celtics’ success as he has kept himself in the competitive conversation. But if Tatum returns to full strength, he’s still one of the best players in the NBA.

Playing 72 regular-season games last season, his averages were unimpressive: 26.8 points, 6 assists and 8 rebounds per game, and shot 34% from three. Tatum has emerged as a star-level playmaker who can score and get buckets for his team.

While Jaylen Brown has stepped into his role, the addition of Jayson Tatum could be a scary proposition for the rest of the Eastern Conference.

There is increasing buzz about the possibility of Boston Celtics star forward Jayson Tatum returning from his Achilles injury before the end of the 2025-26 NBA regular season.

There has been no official announcement regarding this yet, but many believe that the former Duke Blue Devils star will be on the floor sooner than expected for the start.

And if it’s going to happen, will it happen this Wednesday, when Boston takes on the visiting Charlotte Hornets at TD Garden in Beantown? Here’s everything we know about Jayson Tatum’s injury and his playing status against the Hornets.

*Watch NBA Games Live with fuboTV (Free Trial)*

Jayson Tatum Injury Status vs. Hornets

Despite the discussion, Tatum will not debut against the Hornets in the 2025-26 season, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.

“Jayson Tatum is out ahead of tomorrow night’s Hornets-Celtics clash. Amid speculation that he could return on Wednesday, that won’t be the case for the All-Star forward,” Seagal shared via a social media post on Tuesday.

Tatum suffered an Achilles tendon injury during Game 4 of the Celtics’ second-round NBA playoff series against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York in 2025. He went under the knife the next day to repair the injury and was subsequently declared out for the rest of the playoffs and expected to be unavailable for the entire 2025–26 campaign.

However, reports have revealed that Tatum has begun participating in 5-on-5 scrimmages, leading to speculation that he is getting ready to see action this season. Additionally, he also practiced with Boston’s G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics.

In any case, the Celtics are performing well even without Tatum. They enter the meeting with Charlotte with a 41-20 record, second in the Eastern Conference standings and a three-game winning streak following a 108-81 defeat of Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.

The 28-year-old Tatum has played 585 games since being selected by the Celtics as the third overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, averaging 23.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists while shooting 45.9 percent from the field and 37.0 percent from behind the arc.

So, when the question comes whether Tatum is playing against the Hornets, the answer is no.

celtics injury report

Jayson Tatum (Achilles): out

hornet injury report

Coby White (calf): Out vs. Mavericks (Tuesday)

BOSTON – No matter how much the Boston Celtics have accomplished on the court this season, there will always be discussion about what’s happening off the court. or rather, Who is off the court, because Celtics fans just want to know one thing: When is star forward Jayson Tatum coming back?

While no one in Tatum’s camp has confirmed whether the six-time All-Star will return to play this season after suffering an Achilles injury in May, there are multiple outside reports speculating he will return before the 2026 NBA Playoffs begin.

A possible clue lies in the making of “The Quiet Work”, a five-episode documentary from Zero Pressure Productions (a new production company owned by Tatum), which chronicles Tatum’s recovery and eventual return to action. The existence of this short series suggests that the 27-year-old, who turns 28 on Tuesday, could be suiting up for the green team soon.

Tonight, the first episode of “The Quiet Work” airs on NBC.

Jayson Tatum and his mother, Brandi, both released official statements on the “minisodes” coming soon pic.twitter.com/4dovWaHMzV

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 22 February 2026

And perhaps the release schedule of “The Quiet Work” confirms that theory.

Why is Jayson Tatum’s documentary ahead of schedule?

In a February 22 press release from Zero Pressure Productions and their broadcast partner, NBC Sports, it was announced that five minisodes documenting Tatum’s mental and physical journey “will air on a weekly basis.”

This was initially the case with the first two episodes, as Episode 1 was released on February 22 before the Celtics’ emphatic win over the rival Los Angeles Lakers and Episode 2 was released on March 1 before the Celtics’ Sunday night win over another rival – the Philadelphia 76ers.

There is a clear weekly pattern outlined in the press release. However, after Boston’s home win against Philly, NBC removed Episode 3 and Tatum later posted it to his YouTube account on Monday afternoon.

So, why the sudden change? If Tatum’s rehab process turns out to be true to the documentary, is it almost over?

These questions remain unanswered, but given the repeated references to a return in Episode 3 and the commercials around Boston announcing his return to action, it seems Tatum could potentially play during the 2025-26 campaign.

On the way to the game…⏳ pic.twitter.com/ICflajv7dE

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 1 March 2026

Of course, recovery is a fickle thing, especially with an Achilles injury. And while the Celtics would obviously love to have Tatum back in the lineup, they’ve won enough that they don’t need to rush the process. Boston is now 40-20 overall, in second place in the Eastern Conference, and just two wins off last season’s pace, when Tatum was healthy and the Celtics were loaded with talent.

In Tatum’s absence, Celtics star Jaylen Brown has taken up the load. He became an Eastern Conference All-Star starter for the first time in his career this season and led the Sixers with 27 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in 38 minutes on Sunday.

“I think we did a good job of being unselfish and playing Celtics basketball,” Brown said after Boston’s 40th win. “I think we’re starting to figure it out. Tonight was a team win. Everybody did their job. When you’re doing that, it makes you more dangerous.”

Although the Celtics have overachieved beyond most pundits and pre-season projections, they are still a team with a missing piece. They won’t be full on Monday night when they face the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum, but maybe they can be full again before March ends.

If you’re wondering who Cedric Maxwell was referring to, @SeanGrandePBP He said he was pointing at Jayson Tatum and saying, “You’re next.” https://t.co/5rALcdYw3a

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 2 March 2026

It looks like the Boston Celtics are on the verge of seeing Jayson Tatum return after suffering a setback during last year’s playoffs.

According to The Stein Report on Substack, Marc Stein, a veteran basketball writer, believes in a “conspiracy theory” as to when and why Tatum will return. Basically, Tatum would like to return to the Celtics’ games on NBC.

“PPS – Boston has games March 10 (at San Antonio) and March 22 (home game against Minnesota) on NBC. If you buy the conspiracy theory that Jayson Tatum wants to make his comeback from an Achilles tear the network is running extended coverage behind the scenes of his rehab.”

However, media personality Bill Simmons believes Tatum will return much earlier on Friday against the Dallas Mavericks.

Tatum suffered an Achilles injury during the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks last May. A series in which the Celtics lost in six games.

Tatum finished last season averaging 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game.

Currently, the Celtics have the second-best record in the Eastern Conference at 40–20. At the same time, they have won eight of their last ten matches.

Tatum won an NBA championship with Boston in 2024. He is also a 6-time NBA All-Star and was the 2023 NBA All-Star Game MVP.

Additionally, he has won two Olympic gold medals with Team USA, in Tokyo in 2020 and Paris in 2024.

Tatum has been with Boston since the 2017–18 NBA season as the third overall pick out of Duke.

NBC analyst Reggie Miller is high on the Boston Celtics’ potential in the NBA playoffs. in a recent appearance dan patrick showMiller praised the Celtics’ Jaylen Brown for stepping up during Tatum’s absence and highlighted the team’s depth. He then said that the Celtics are “the scariest team in the Eastern Conference”, even with Tatum marginalized.

“The Celtics are the scariest team in the Eastern Conference, and the reason there are no expectations is because people thought it would be a gap year. Yeah. About Tatum and the way Jaylen Brown is, his name should definitely be in the MVP discussion with Cade Cunningham.”

He added, “With the Celtics, with or without Tatum coming back, the Celtics are a real threat to win the Easter Conference… They’ve been well coached by Coach Mazzulla. They’re deep. They can play a lot of ways. They can play big, small, and I think Vucevic has a pickup low. You can play it back to the basket. He can knock down threes. They play a certain way. They shoot a lot of threes. Gonna jack up. Most of those shots come from, uh, 16 feet away. Defensively, I’m just telling people they’re high on the Knicks and that’s right, and Cleveland’s going up too.

The Boston Celtics are currently in second place in the East behind the top-seeded Detroit Pistons. They are two games up on the third-seeded New York Knicks in the loss column. The Celtics have emerged as one of the biggest stories of the season, as many NBA fans and forecasters believed they would suffer a blowout without Tatum in the lineup.

But Jaylen Brown has stepped up. He averaged 29.2 points, 7 rebounds and 1 steal along with 4.9 assists per game. The Browns also have help from Peyton Pritchard, who is averaging 17.6 points per game, and Derrick White, who is averaging 17 points per game. Additionally, a sharpshooter like Sam Hauser has emerged as one of the best high-volume shooters in the league, as he shoots 39% from the three-point line. The Celtics also recently acquired Nikola Vucevic, who is averaging 11 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. The Celtics head to Phoenix to play the Suns tonight at 9pm Eastern.

The Boston Celtics came out of the All-Star break with another blowout win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday as they continued their West Coast trip. The win came as the team awaits further updates on injured star Jayson Tatum, who many doubt can return any time soon this season.

However, one person who thinks the Celtics can reach their goal this season regardless of whether Tatum is in the lineup is former ESPN big man Kendrick Perkins, who recently took to First Take to express his thoughts.

“They can go to the NBA Finals without [Jayson] Tatum. … They’re the most dangerous team in the NBA because they have no expectations,” Perkins, formerly of First Take on X, said via Twitter.

Perkins also said that Boston has “the best two-way player in the game in Jaylen Brown, because no other player in the league is doing what he is doing in terms of being top five in scoring and top five defensively in opponent field goal percentage.”

In fact, Brown is getting it done on both ends of the floor this year, although fans of Kawhi Leonard, Victor Wembanyama and many other players will strongly disagree with Perkins’ assessment.

Still, at this juncture, the Celtics are starting to look like a real threat even without Tatum in the lineup. There is a theory that Tatum’s hasty return this season could actually work against Boston’s 2025-26 plans, considering the team’s rhythm would be at least temporarily disrupted, and the fact that the star would have a lot of rust to shake off. Tatum also has not distinguished himself as a postseason performer so far in his career, which continued last year against the New York Knicks.

In any case, the Celtics’ road trip continues on Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns.

Fans are speculating whether Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum will see action this season as he recovers from his Achilles injury.

Multiple reports say Tatum is on track and ahead of schedule. He has accomplished several feats, including participating in controlled 5‑on‑5 scrimmages and working out with teammates.

The 27-year-old Tatum has touted his progress, but recently backtracked on his previous view that he could suit up this season, saying he needed to reevaluate his situation.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla confirmed that Tatum was practicing ahead of Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers. But when asked if the six-time All-Star participated, Mazzulla had the all-time response, as shown in a video posted by CLNS.

Did Jayson Tatum practice yesterday?

“He was at practice?”

Did he participate?

*stares*@CLNSMedia | Why: @RealBobManning pic.twitter.com/SOLMYuzu4J

-Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) 22 February 2026

Silence usually means yes. But Mazzulla is as difficult to read in Latin as Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace”, so it’s hard to say whether he actually alluded to anything.

Why waste energy on words when you can always look deep into someone’s soul and make them question their existence?

If anything, Majulla is tired of answering questions about Tatum, who suffered a debilitating injury against the New York Knicks in last season’s playoffs.

Whatever his wordless response actually meant, it’s clear the Celtics are doing just fine without Tatum. They defeated the Lakers 111–89 to improve to 37–19, including 8–2 in their last 10 games.

Jaylen Brown is playing at an MVP level, earning his keep from even LeBron James. Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and Neemias Queta have been consistent contributors, while the addition of Nikola Vucevic has made them even stronger.

The Celtics will take a look at the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.

It’s funny how a team’s record can affect a star’s injury return timeline. If the Boston Celtics were struggling to maintain a playoff position like many expected, fans probably wouldn’t expect Jayson Tatum to play this season. Although Jaylen Brown led the team to second place in the Eastern Conference, the public consensus is that number zero will speed up his recovery process and try to help the C’s win another championship.

Well, one should not jump to conclusions just yet. Despite making progress in his rehab for the torn Achilles he suffered during last year’s playoffs, Tatum isn’t ready to commit to anything.

“I don’t have a return date in mind,” he told the Celtics’ Bobby Manning on CLNS. “I take it one day at a time. I feel better than I did yesterday, and that’s the most important.”

.@RealBobManning Asked Jayson Tatum if he has a return date in mind:

“I don’t have a date… I just take one day at a time. I’m feeling better than yesterday.”
–@CLNSMedia pic.twitter.com/67bsMB4ubj

-Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) 21 February 2026

The four-time All-NBA first-team selection continued during his lengthy recovery. While it’s probably tempting to look toward the playoffs, he realizes the dangers of rushing the process. If Tatum comes back well below full strength he won’t be any help for Boston. Nevertheless, the 2024 NBA champion is still making every effort to reunite with his teammates before the end of the campaign.

Tatum, by his own admission, has participated in “a little 5-on-5”, giving fans some hope that he could get on the floor this spring. If the 27-year-old is able to get fit before the playoffs, the Celtics will immediately become a popular NBA Finals pick. But for now they are doing just fine without the franchise pillar.

Boston has done a great job of staying focused on the task at hand as they continue to win. Speculation will not benefit anyone. C’s head coach Joe Mazzulla himself said: “I don’t live on experience. I live on principle.”

Here’s what we know. The Celtics are one of the hottest teams in the NBA, and Jayson Tatum is getting stronger every day. The fans will take it.

The Boston Celtics have been one of the NBA’s most surprising teams this season. As they return to action Thursday night against the Golden State Warriors following the All-Star break, they sit in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 35-19 record.

“I’m trying to come back… I don’t know if that’s it.”@ChrisBHaynes The latest information has come from injured Celtics star Jayson Tatum on whether he will return this season. pic.twitter.com/mAYfrbpcux

– NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) 20 February 2026

While they are 5.5 games behind the first place Detroit Pistons, the Celtics look like they could be a dangerous team in the postseason. Jaylen Brown, Peyton Pritchard and Derrick White are leading the offense for head coach Joe Mazzulla and the team’s defense has been solid most nights. The fact that they are playing so well without All-Star Jayson Tatum has been a surprise to many basketball observers.

Tatum has been out the entire year due to an Achilles injury suffered in last year’s playoff loss to the New York Knicks. His rehab has been good and he has returned to practice. However, he is not sure when or if he will be able to return. There is some talk that Tatum will be able to return to the Celtics at some point during the season and lead the team to a playoff push, but Tatum doesn’t want to rush into anything before he is ready.

He Talked to an NBA insider Chris Haynes said that he is making every effort to make a comeback. According to Haynes, Tatum said, “I’m trying to get back and I’m doing everything I can to get back.” “I don’t know if I can.”

If Tatum can return to the Celtics and make a playoff run, it will improve Boston’s chances of making a long run in the postseason.

The Boston Celtics are currently preparing for the unofficial second half of the NBA season following the conclusion of the All-Star break. The Celtics are playing some excellent basketball, especially considering they have been without star Jayson Tatum this season as he recovers from a torn Achilles.

There has been much speculation in recent weeks that Tatum could return as soon as this season following one of the quickest Achilles recoveries the league has ever seen, which was further fueled when the league moved the upcoming Celtics home game against the Philadelphia 76ers to national TV without explanation.

Now, Tatum has taken to X, formerly Twitter, to mark a new milestone in his recovery process.

“40 weeks,” Tatum wrote on the social media platform along with a prayer emoji. “I have really grown to appreciate this journey and have found time to pat myself on the back for doing well every day!”

Tatum suffered an Achilles injury last year during Game 4 of the semifinal series against the New York Knicks, which Boston lost in six games, already down 3–1 by the time Tatum was sidelined.

This year, Jaylen Brown is playing at a borderline MVP level for the Celtics, and Derrick White and Peyton Pritchard have overcome a bad start to the year to help provide some explosive scoring for the team.

Meanwhile, Boston executives recently made a winning move by sending Anfernee Simmons to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Nikola Vucevic at the NBA trade deadline, eliminating the team’s biggest weakness in the process.

If Tatum is indeed able to come back this year, many will view the Celtics as the favorite to come out of the East in the spring.

Boston’s season is scheduled to resume on Thursday with a road game against the Golden State Warriors.

如果比爾·西蒙斯的陰謀論有任何跡象的話，波士頓凱爾特人隊的球迷似乎不需要等待很長時間就能看到傑森·塔圖姆的回歸。在他的同名播客的最新一集中，這位凱爾特人隊的終身球迷讀了茶葉，並得出結論，塔圖姆有望在三月的第一周回歸——他的錢是在這個月的第一周。

「我不知道你週末是否看到了這個。3月1日週日晚上凱爾特人隊和76人隊的比賽。從下午六點改為晚上八點。嗯，」西蒙斯說。

「我聽說三月第一周已經有一段時間了。據說是在 3 月 4 日和 3 月 6 日的比賽前後。陰謀比爾還指出，如果你訪問任何 3 月 6 日達拉斯比賽的門票轉售網站，價格會很不正常。而且不可能只是庫珀·弗拉格要來城裡。”

「所以看起來真的開始像是 3 月 1 日或 3 月 6 日，但我的錢現在對他來說應該是 3 月 1 日。”

塞爾提克隊已經準備好佔據東部第一的位置

塞爾提克隊成為 2025-26 NBA 賽季最大的驚喜之一；儘管沒有塔圖姆，他們還是成功守住了堡壘，這在很大程度上要歸功於傑倫·布朗的穩定和主教練喬·馬祖拉的才華。

但塞爾提克隊知道，他們在六月爭奪拉里·奧布萊恩獎杯的夢想將取決於塔圖姆和他的健康狀況，以及他在季後賽跟腱斷裂一年後是否準備好為球隊帶來影響。

對於塔圖姆來說，試圖幫助塞爾提克渡過難關將是一個很高的要求，因為他在跟腱撕裂的回歸中肯定還沒有達到100%的狀態。但事實上，有跡象表明回歸時間比預期要早，這對波士頓來說是令人難以置信的，對整個聯盟來說也是令人難以置信的。

Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown gave an encouraging update on Jayson Tatum’s injury at All-Star Media Day. For many, the Celtics’ trade for Nikola Vucevic signaled Tatum’s return, or at least, signaled the organization’s desire to do so, while the All-Star forward has not made a final decision on whether or not he should return this season.

As for the Browns, Tatum is looking better as he reaches the final stages of recovery from the ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered last year in the Celtics’ second-round playoff series against the New York Knicks. According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Brown addressed Tatum’s rehabilitation during his media availability on Saturday.

“In terms of what I’ve seen, he looks great,” Brown said, adding that Tatum’s potential return for this season is close.

While Tatum’s recent practice with the Celtics’ G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics, was an encouraging update, Jayson says it is not a guarantee he is returning this season, which is a decision that will likely be made in the coming weeks.

Celtics return Nikola Vucevic trade sign for Jayson Tatum

The Celtics added to their frontcourt at the deadline by trading Anfernee Simmons with the Bulls for Nikola Vucevic. Despite the guard leading the NBA in points off the bench, the Celtics added a big move to complement their All-Star tandem in Jaylen Brown and, hopefully, Jayson Tatum, amid his impending return.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Celtics trading for Vucevic increases the front office’s confidence that Tatum will return before the end of the regular season.

Stein reported, “The Celtics’ decision to acquire Nikola Vucevic from Chicago before the trade deadline, in exchange for Anfernee Simmons’ expiring contract, was a clear indicator that Boston believes Tatum will indeed return for the postseason.”

The Celtics entered the All-Star break with the second-best record – 35–19 – in the Eastern Conference.

維克多·溫班亞馬 (Victor Wembanyama) 正在努力最終成為 NBA 頂級球員。這只是時間問題。他在聖安東尼奧的存在為這個已經取得巨大成功的球隊創造了奇蹟。從大衛·羅賓遜、蒂姆·鄧肯、科懷·倫納德到溫比，馬刺隊總能找到一位超​​​​級巨星。

溫尼本賽季幫助球隊領軍，但他只打了 33 場比賽。馬刺隊還沒有完全健康，溫巴尼亞馬的健康狀況給他們帶來了一些額外的障礙。儘管如此，馬刺隊以32勝15負的戰績排名西部第二。他們落後俄克拉荷馬雷霆隊 5.5 個勝場。

波士頓凱爾特人隊球星傑森·塔圖姆在跟腱傷勢恢復期間觀看了溫比隊和馬刺隊的比賽。他在最新一集的《The Pivot》中讚揚了溫比。

“當我可以的時候，每晚都看他，並且親自見到他，這太荒謬了。我什至不知道還能如何表達……他仍在摸索自己……他能夠做到的事情，我們從未見過。”

溫班亞馬在客場戰勝休斯頓火箭隊後聲稱自己的投籃命中率是1投1中。他在29分鐘內得到28分，搶下16個籃板並蓋帽5次。

這位身高7英尺4英寸的超級巨星場均得到24.3分，在NBA中排名第18位。他的籃板數排名第四，場均 11.2 個；投籃命中率排名第 32，場均 50.6%；蓋帽數排名第一，場均 2.7 個。

聖安東尼奧馬刺隊在周六下午在 Prime Video 上客場迎戰夏洛特黃蜂隊之前有幾個晚上的休息時間。他們週日將回到主場迎戰奧蘭多魔術隊。