The Boston Celtics fans held their breath after Jayson Tatum left Thursday’s Game 6 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in the third quarter. He returned to the bench and clutched his left calf, raising concerns about a potential injury. With Tatum suffering an Achilles tear last year, fans were worried he had aggravated the ailment after making a shockingly early return in March.
However, Tatum’s Achilles tear is on his right leg. The calf issue that held him back on Thursday was on his left. Even then, the calf injury wasn’t significant. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla and Tatum downplayed any concerns and signaled that it shouldn’t impact his Game 7 availability.
Mazzulla said Tatum didn’t get hurt:
“No. He went in the back, just got stretched, got some treatment. That was about it.”
Meanwhile, Tatum gave a more detailed answer, saying:
“You guys probably saw when I went to the back, saw me on the bike, my leg just was a little stiff when I came out third quarter.”
Jayson Tatum revealed that he didn’t return in the fourth quarter after the game felt a bit out of reach for the Celtics. Boston was down 15 when he left. That deficit was up to 21 entering the fourth.
Jayson Tatum keen to play Game 7 as 76ers give Celtics a run for their money
The Celtics were overwhelming favorites to advance in the first round, especially after they took a 3-1 series lead. However, the 76ers have made this series highly interesting with back-to-back blowout wins. Joel Embiid is playing like his MVP-caliber days, Paul George has turned back the clock and Tyrese Maxey has maintained his composure.
The Celtics, on the other hand, have been trying to find it difficult to find consistent production from players outside Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Despite the adversity, Tatum, who has been part of several spectacular Game 7s in his young career, is looking forward to another do-or-die matchup.
“I’m not bummed,” Tatum said. “I was out for 50 weeks and wasn’t able to play basketball.”
The Celtics will bank on their homecourt advantage and a special performance from Jayson Tatum to drag them again in a Game 7. They haven’t had the smoothest offensive game plans as a team, and if it stays like that, individual brilliance will set the teams apart when they match up for one final time this season.
