The Celtics grabbed another solid win on Monday night beating the Kings 113-95. They are now 53-19 on the season and continue to firmly hold the second seed in the Eastern Conference standings. The Celtics victory wasn’t all positive, however. The Celtics’ top star, Jayson Tatum, went down with what looked like a bad ankle injury during the contest. Now the Celtics need to wait and see what the severity of Jayson Tatum’s ankle injury is and whether it could throw a wrench in their attempt to repeat as NBA champions.
Huge Injury Could Dampen Celtics’ Championship Chances
Bad Celtics News Despite a Solid Win
Tatum was having an outstanding game, leading all scorers with 25 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists before he went down. The injury happened late in the third quarter when Tatum attempted a three-pointer. As he landed, his left foot came down on Kings center Domantas Sabonis‘ foot, causing Tatum to roll his ankle. The play resulted in a Flagrant 1 foul call on Sabonis, but that didn’t ease the pain of Celtics’ fans.
Tatum looked like he was in a lot of pain, writhing on the floor. The injury didn’t look good, and some expected the worst. He did however manage to shoot his free throws but did not return to the game, with the team listing his injury as a left ankle sprain.
Despite Tatum’s early exit, the Celtics maintained their composure and control of the game. Payton Pritchard stepped up with 22 points off the bench, while Kristaps Porzingis added 16 points and eight rebounds. The team’s depth was on display as they closed out the victory without their leading scorer.
Boston Needs Jayson Tatum’s Ankle Injury to Be Minor
Tatum’s ankle injury could have real ramifications for the Celtics. They are in the middle of attempting to defend their title from last season and are currently one of the favorites to become NBA champions.
As the team’s best player and offensive cornerstone, Tatum being healthy for their playoff run is essential to their championship hopes. As Celtics fans watched their best player helped off the court, it’s only natural for them to worry about their teams’ long-term prospects.
Fans Wait for a Tatum Injury Update
The first Tatum injury update will tell us a lot about whether this injury could have a large effect on the Celtics’ championship chances. If Tatum needs to miss extended time, the Celtics could be in trouble. The 2025 NBA playoffs start in just a few weeks. If Tatum isn’t fully healthy by the first round, the Celtics could be at risk for an upset.
Even if Tatum’s injury isn’t that severe, the timing isn’t ideal. The Celtics were probably hoping to give a healthy Tatum a bit of rest before the playoffs started, not forced rest due to an injury. If Tatum has to deal with a lingering ankle injury during the playoffs, the Celtics are much more vulnerable. Or maybe he recovers in time for the playoffs but has to knock off the rust and ramp up conditioning as the playoffs go on. Regardless, the timing of this injury could present some real concerns for the Celtics’ hope of repeating.
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