The Boston Celtics, who were the top seed in the Eastern Conference, find themselves in a tough spot in this year’s NBA playoffs. They now face a daunting 3-1 series deficit if they wish to defend their title.
A recent game saw the New York Knicks defeat the Celtics 121-113, which puts Boston on the verge of elimination. A significant part of the discussion post-game revolves around the injury of Celtics star, Jason Tatum.
Tatum, a six-time NBA All-Star, collapsed on the floor at Madison Square Garden with less than three minutes remaining in Game 4. Almost immediately, speculation arose regarding a potential Achilles injury. On Tuesday, the Celtics confirmed that Tatum had ruptured his right Achilles tendon and had undergone surgery to repair the damage.
While the Celtics reported the surgery was a success, they also indicated that there is currently no timetable for his return. Nevertheless, the team believes that Tatum, who is 27, will make a full recovery.
During the game, Tatum was sprinting toward the ball when he seemed to experience significant discomfort in his right leg, subsequently calling for a timeout. His visibly painful reaction raised alarms among players and fans alike.
As the series heads back to Boston for Game 5 on Wednesday, the Celtics will look to avoid elimination and rally without their star player.
