NEW YORK (AP) — The Boston Celtics are used to seeing Jayson Tatum stand up when he goes down, like he did after a onerous fall that brought on a wrist harm within the first spherical of the playoffs.
When he couldn’t get to his ft late in Sport 4 of the Japanese Convention semifinals and needed to be carried off the court docket, it was clear simply how severe his decrease proper leg harm was, even earlier than testing that received’t come till Tuesday.
“He’s the kind of man, he will get proper up,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla stated. “So he didn’t and we’ll know tomorrow precisely what it’s. However yeah, I imply it’s robust to look at a man like him get carried like that.”
The Celtics had simply turned the ball over with about three minutes left and as Tatum lunged ahead towards the free ball, his leg gave out and he went down. He buried his face in a towel in apparent ache whereas grabbing at his leg above the ankle after the non-contact harm.
The New York Knicks received 121-113 to take a 3-1 lead. The sequence resumes Wednesday in Boston with the Celtics needing to win to increase their NBA title reign.
Mazzulla stated the All-Star ahead would endure an MRI examination Tuesday.
“I believe tonight is hard,” the Celtics’ Jaylen Brown stated. “I believe all people’s type of confused, simply because, one shedding the sport, however clearly the priority with JT. However we decide our heads again up tomorrow and go from there.”
Tatum scored 42 factors, his excessive in these playoffs, earlier than he was damage. He buried his face in his hands as he was pushed down a tunnel in a wheelchair after leaving the ground.
An eight-year veteran, Tatum received his first NBA title final yr when he led Boston to its 18th championship.
Gamers and coaches on either side expressed their concern for Tatum, who was damage in Sport 1 of the opening round towards Orlando when he was fouled on a dunk try and landed awkwardly, remaining on the court docket briefly earlier than getting up holding his proper wrist. He remained within the sport earlier than lacking Sport 2, the primary time he’d missed a playoff sport in his profession.
The Celtics received with out him that point. Now they’re confronted with having to do it once more.
“Clearly it’s robust to see, however who hasn’t had accidents, you understand?” Celtics heart Kristaps Porzingis stated. “And it’s part of this sport, a part of this sport and we really feel for him, after all. However we now have to maneuver ahead. He don’t need us to be over right here unhappy and never play our greatest basketball. So, we’re going to go on the market and depart all of it on the market and stay with the outcome.”
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