Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum proved to be building a stormy sea-game during the swinging showdown with the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night. Despite an off-shooting night, Tatum impacted the game in a big way, scoring 17 points and grabbing a game-high 14 rebounds. His performance was all the more impressive given it came in almost 40 minutes of play, showing his fitness and willingness to defend the team.
The game turned in a scary direction for Tatum late in the fourth quarter. With 8:28 remaining, he attempted a driving dunk but fell awkwardly after being met by Magic defenders Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Wendell Carter Jr. The dive led to some visible pain, as Tatum clutched at his right wrist after the fall and screamed in agony. Despite the severe injury, he stayed in the game, playing through the agony.
The impact of Tatum’s shooting woes were more than felt, as he finished just 8-of-22 from the floor and 1-of-8 from deep. After suffering the injury, he missed two potentially game-winning free throws, leaving worried fans questioning his health. He was able to do enough to flex and rotate his wrist while walking off the court in the game’s waning moments.
Postgame, Tatum sounded optimistic about his health after getting an X-ray on his left wrist, which reportedly came back negative. He calmed the fears of anxious fans and concerned teammates, declaring, “I’m pretty sure I’m good.” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla reiterated this optimistic confidence, saying Tatum was “doing well” after the game.
Even with his physical adversity in the very recent past, Tatum played remarkably well. After missing the last three games of the regular season with a bone bruise in his right knee, he submitted an impressive demonstrate of resilience by bouncing back out of nowhere.
Tatum highlighted the strength of his team, saying, “I think that’s what makes us so dangerous, that we just have a really well-balanced team… And guys step up and it can be different guys on any night.” This opening line revealed her understanding of the work it takes to win collective wins and her powerful leadership instinct.
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