Celtics’ Jayson Tatum carried off in Game 4 with leg injury
Celtics Face Elimination and an Emotional Blow After Tatum Injury
The Boston Celtics’ plans for a deep playoff run sustained an abrupt and alarming blow Monday night — and not just on the scoreboard, but to the core of their roster. The defending champions are staring down a 3-1 series hole after a 121-113 loss to the New York Knicks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The real gut punch, however, came with just under three minutes left in the game, when Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum went down after a noncontact play, holding his lower right leg.
For a team that has been hardened by the crucible of playoff pressure and that has delivered results time and again, there was silence after a jarring defeat in the visitors’ locker room at Madison Square Garden. It wasn’t just the loss of a game. It was about losing their engine, their leader and their emotional core.
A Moment That Altered Everything
The Celtics were on the verge of turning over the ball with 2:58 left in the fourth quarter. Tatum leapt, dived for the loose ball, but his right leg seemed to buckle beneath him. The forward went down straight away, evidently writhing in pain, and did not try to get up. With Knicks forward OG Anunoby sprinting down the floor for a breakaway dunk, Tatum immediately signalled for a timeout, his face buried in a towel and hands clenched hard against the leg just above the ankle.
He eventually was lifted to his feet and guided off the court and into a wheeled chair. The expression on his face said what no medical report could confirm yet: Something was very wrong.
“At this point obviously we’re worried about Jayson,” added veteran big man Al Horford. “That’s all I can fixate on. The game, the series — we’ll deal with that. “But at this point, I just want to know that he’s all right.”
MRI Next, But Questions Remain
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla could not provide much of an update following the game, but told reporters that Tatum would receive an MRI on Tuesday. At the time of the news conference, the team hadn’t released an official diagnosis.
Jaylen Brown, a leading emotional presence on the team and Tatum’s long-time running mate, seemed dazed when asked what the injury could mean for the Celtics in the larger sense.
“I don’t have no words right now,” Brown said. “None.”
A Dominant Performance Marred by Injuries
Tatum, meanwhile, was absolutely sensational up until the injury. The All-Star forward finished with 42 points on 16-for-28 shooting, offering a reminder of his customary mix of midrange finesse, perimeter confidence and powerful finishes at the rim. His production had helped the Celtics hold a lead for most of the game — it had even ballooned to 14 points at one point — until the Knicks made another push in the second half.
It’s also worth noting that Tatum never missed a playoff game in his career due to injury before this postseason. (A lingering wrist injury kept him out for Game 2 against Orlando in the first round.) His dependability has been a hallmark of Boston’s recent success in the playoffs.
The Long Shadow Over Game 5
The Celtics, who headed back home on Saturday trailing 3-1, now must regroup quickly, and perhaps without their best player. Elimination is a real possibility — but even harder to fill than Tatum’s emotional and tactical contributions may be the hole his absence leaves.
Kristaps Porzingis, another key cog in the Celtics’ core, said it was jarring watching his teammate hit the ground.
“It happens in sports,” Porzingis said drily. “You hate to see it. It hits everyone hard. But the playoffs continue, and so do we. We’ve got to be ready.”
“I think we know what Jayson means to us. That’s undeniable. But we still got a job to do.”
A Pattern That Haunts
The loss in Game 4 was the Celtics’ third on the series when they coughed up a double-digit lead. And while the Knicks deserve some credit, the collapse — this time made worse by the Tatum injury — clearly threw Boston’s players, and staff, for a loop.
Suddenly, it wasn’t only about poor execution or missed defensive rotations. And it was about something that felt bigger: the feeling that their season might be slipping away, and slipping away in a way that they were helpless to prevent.
Support from Both Sides
The Knicks players and coaches offered their thoughts and prayers to Tatum after the game in a show of good sportsmanship. Karl-Anthony Towns, who has been through his own harrowing calf injury year, gave Tatum a quiet hug.
“I just wanted to give him space but also let him know I’ve been there,” Towns said. “I had a prayer literally right then. I just hope we see him back on that floor soon playing like the superstar he is.”
A City Holds Its Breath
In Boston, the effect of the injury was already being felt. The fans who had crowded watch parties and bars with dreams of another run to the finals now scanned for news and solace as potential heartbreak loomed in the darkness.
Horford, one of the team’s most veteran and even-keel players, spoke with the weight of the moment evident in his voice.
“Jayson means so much — to us, to the city, to this franchise,” he said. “It’s hard to watch him. Really tough. But we’ll rally. We have to.”
One Game, One Goal
And there will be no time for the Celtics to sulk. Game 5 of the NBA Finals starts Wednesday night at TD Garden, and it doesn’t get much bigger. A loss will end their season. A victory spares you from the brink, forcing a Game 6, and leaves hope — however tenuous — alive.
But the big question is whether the rest of the roster can follow suit without the player who has steered them through so many of these moments in the past. Will Jaylen Brown step into a leadership and scoring role? Will Porzingis step up? Can the Celtics’ bench get going?
The answers to those questions will set the course for the rest of Boston’s season — and maybe the future of the team, too.
Looking Ahead
No matter what happens on the court Wednesday night, the Celtics know this moment — this injury — will be a turning point on their path.
For Tatum, it’s about redemption. For his teammates, it’s rallying. And for Boston, it’s about faith.
For occasionally, the measure of a team isn’t in whether it wins or loses, but about how it reacts when the going gets tough. And they’re never harder than they are now.
Conclusion
The Boston Celtics find themselves in unfamiliar territory: staring down elimination and facing the possible long-term absence of their franchise player. Jayson Tatum’s injury casts a long shadow not only on Game 5 but on the team’s future. Yet, in this adversity lies opportunity. The team, the city, and the fans must rally together — not just for another game, but for the spirit and legacy of what Celtics basketball represents. Grit. Unity. Resilience.
FAQs
What happened to Jayson Tatum?
Tatum suffered a noncontact lower right leg injury late in Game 4. He had to be helped off the court and is expected to undergo an MRI.
What is the current series standing?
The Celtics are trailing the Knicks 3-1 in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
When is Game 5 scheduled?
Game 5 will take place on Wednesday night at TD Garden in Boston.
How did Tatum perform before the injury?
Tatum scored 42 points on 16-of-28 shooting, putting on a dominant performance before exiting due to injury.
What’s the sentiment from the team?
Players and coaches are visibly emotional and concerned. There is strong support for Tatum, and the team aims to rally in his absence.
Reference
Celtics’ Jayson Tatum carried off in Game 4 with leg injury
