Tatum's Injury Concern Looms After Celtics' Game 1 Victory Over Magic

The Boston Celtics secured a commanding double-digit victory over the Orlando Magic in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series, but the win came with a scare for fans at TD Garden.

With the Celtics holding a 16-point lead early in the fourth quarter, Jayson Tatum drove to the basket and was fouled hard by Orlando’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Tatum landed awkwardly on his right wrist, staying on the floor in obvious pain.

Despite the discomfort, Tatum managed to get up under his own power and continue playing. Although he missed both free throws following the technical foul called on Caldwell-Pope, Tatum quickly bounced back and nailed a 3-pointer a couple of minutes later. However, he was seen grabbing his right wrist multiple times throughout the remainder of the game before exiting with 17 points (on 8-for-22 shooting, including 1-for-8 from beyond the arc), 14 rebounds, four assists, and a steal in the Celtics' 103-86 win.

After the game, Tatum confirmed he had an X-ray on his right wrist, which came back "clean." He reassured everyone, saying, "I’m good," and described the injury as “just a fall” that caused some initial throbbing but soon faded.

Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla also downplayed the concern, stating simply, "He’s good," when asked about Tatum’s status. Considering that Tatum stayed in the game, it seems the injury is not severe, though it remains something to monitor moving forward.

Tatum's right wrist injury is particularly worth keeping an eye on, as it's his shooting hand, which could potentially affect his performance during the playoffs. Tatum has previously dealt with injuries to his left wrist, opting not to have surgery during the 2023 offseason.

With two full days to recover before Game 2 on Wednesday night at TD Garden, Tatum will be hoping for a quick recovery. Game 2 is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Boston.