The Boston Celtics took the first-round collection opener, however they’d a second of silence at one level in opposition to the Orlando Magic.
The reigning defending champions held their collective breath throughout their 103-86 Sport 1 win on April 20 after what occurred to Jayson Tatum.
The Boston Celtics celebrity went down laborious, sustaining what has been an obvious proper wrist damage through the 8:28 mark of the fourth quarter.
Tatum attacked the rim for a slam dunk, however he was tightly contested by two Orlando Magic gamers in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Wendell Carter Jr.
He nonetheless completed strongly, incomes the reward of Richard Jefferson. However the damage he sustained clearly affords nervousness amongst Celtics followers.
Tatum managed to finish Sport 1 for the Celtics, however he was visibly in ache out of his sudden wrist challenge.
He went on to have his proper hand taped for the rest of the ball recreation, concluding the evening with 17 factors, 14 rebounds and two assists in his 40 minutes. He shot inconsistently by going 8-of-22 from the sphere, however his impression served the very best with a game-high +23.
Proper after the sport, Tatum underwent rapid imaging. X-ray outcomes fortunately confirmed detrimental end result.
“It’s all proper,” Tatum mentioned about his wrist in his postgame availability. “Simply fell on it, landed on it.”
He additional added: “It was throbbing for a second. Sort of went away.”
Head coach Joe Mazzulla appeared unbothered as effectively from what occurred to Tatum, briefly nothing that his franchise star is “doing good” regardless of the damage.
However by acknowledging the truth that it’s the taking pictures hand of Tatum that was injured, we are able to solely monitor the potential impression of the wrist complication on the efficiency of the 26-year-old.
Regardless, the Celtics ought to hope that Tatum’s damage gained’t be a severe matter transferring ahead as they proceed their goal of a profitable title protection.
Sport 2 of the Magic-Celtics first-round collection is ready on April 23 in Boston.
