The Boston Celtics secured a 103-86 win over the Orlando Magic in Game 1 of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff matchup, though the victory came with some anxious moments.
Fans held their breath late in the fourth quarter when Jayson Tatum took a hard fall on his wrist after a flagrant foul by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Tatum remained on the ground in visible pain for several minutes, but he was able to finish the game. Afterward, he told reporters that he had an MRI, which fortunately showed no serious damage.
On Tuesday, head coach Joe Mazzulla provided an update, noting that while Tatum was still feeling sore, he had managed to participate in parts of practice. “He was able to do some stuff,” Mazzulla said. “He was sore after the game, but he’s improved today. He got some on-court work in, and we’ll monitor his progress.”
When pressed on whether Tatum would be available for Game 2 on Wednesday, Mazzulla remained noncommittal, labeling his status as “day-to-day.” Any ongoing issue with Tatum’s wrist would be a major concern for Boston, especially since Jaylen Brown is also recovering from a knee problem that kept him out of several late-season games.
Tatum has a reputation for toughness and rarely misses time unless absolutely necessary, which suggests he’s likely to play. However, his effectiveness remains in question. In Game 1, he scored 17 points on 8-of-22 shooting but contributed elsewhere with 14 rebounds, a steal, and a block. If he’s on the floor for Game 2, the Celtics will hope for a more efficient performance to counter Orlando’s stout defense.
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