According to Boston Celtics PR, Jayson Tatum is listed as DOUBTFUL to play in Game 3 against the Orlando Magic. Tatum missed Game 2, marking the first playoff absence of his career, but the Celtics still managed to pick up a 103-86 win, taking a 2-0 lead in the series. Led by Jaylen Brown’s 36 points, the Tatum-less Celtics grinded their way to a win.
Tatum injured his wrist in Game 1 of the series after going up for a layup and crashing to the ground hard. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope grabbed his arm mid-air and brought him to the floor, causing him to injure his wrist on the fall.
Though the Celtics star returned to finish out that game, and his post-game X-ray supposedly came back negative, that was far from the end of his injury.
Huge Jayson Tatum injury update for Celtics vs. Magic Game 3 is very important
Two days after Game 1, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Tatum received an MRI on the wrist, which revealed a bone bruise.
“Sources tell me that Jayson Tatum underwent an MRI on that right wrist over the last 24 hours, and he has been diagnosed with a bone bruise in his shooting wrist,” Charania said. “It’s believed to be a pain-tolerance injury, something that the Celtics will be managing day-to-day, and his status is somewhat up in the air for Game 2 on Wednesday.”
“It’s very hard for a guy like Jayson Tatum to miss any period of time. He loves playing basketball, but that injury clearly might be something that lingers for a little bit, for someone who led the Celtics in points, rebounds, and assists for the entire playoffs in 2024, plus the Finals.”
Then, after Tatum sat out in Game 2, Joe Mazzulla avoided commenting on the injury, dodging most of the questions regarding his absence. However, during a radio appearance on 98.5 The Sports Hub, Mazzulla stated that Tatum’s bone bruise is “severe,” adding even more fuel to Celtics fans’ panic meter.
This could mean that Tatum’s absence may stretch longer than most initially hoped. However, based on the Celtics’ performance in Game 2, there’s a chance they may not need him in order to win their first-round series.
Regardless, with Tatum’s history of not wanting to miss games, it’s unlikely that he’ll sit out any longer than absolutely necessary. He undoubtedly wants to be back out on the court with his teammates as they continue their journey on the road to Banner 19.
