Jayson Tatum’s ankle injury, sustained during the third quarter of the Boston Celtics’ 113-95 victory over the Sacramento Kings, raised concerns but appears to be less serious than initially feared. The six-time All-Star had been leading the team with 25 points when he was fouled by Kings center Domantas Sabonis while attempting a contested 3-pointer. Sabonis was called for a Flagrant 1 after Tatum landed on his foot, and the Celtics forward immediately dropped to the floor in pain.
Tatum was able to shoot one of two free throws before heading to the locker room. After the game, he described his ankle as “just sore” and assured that the team would be “cautious” in managing his recovery. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla expressed optimism, saying, “He seems to be doing OK. He’s taking care of it right now. Fortunately, he was able to shoot the free throws.” Tatum, who grabbed seven rebounds and tallied eight assists before his exit, spent time with teammates after the game and limped slightly as he left the arena.
Sabonis, who was responsible for the play that led to Tatum’s injury, expressed regret for the incident. “I feel horrible,” he said. “You never want that to happen, and I apologize.” Sabonis has had a tough month himself, recently returning from an ankle injury that sidelined him for three games.
Despite losing Tatum, the Celtics managed to finish the game strong, with Kristaps Porzingis stepping up to lead the team in Tatum’s absence. “Up until the point he got hurt, he was cooking,” Porzingis said. “He was carrying us, but we were able to finish the job.”
With 10 games remaining in the regular season and the Celtics positioned just 4 1/2 games behind the Eastern Conference leaders, the team is being cautious with Tatum’s recovery. While his injury doesn’t appear serious, the Celtics are likely to rest him in upcoming games to ensure he’s at full strength for the postseason.
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