Jayson Tatum missed the first playoff game of his career after Boston ruled him out with a bone bruise in his right wrist.
The Celtics forward had played 114 consecutive postseason games across eight seasons before sitting out Game 2 against Orlando.
Flagrant foul causes wrist injury
Tatum was hurt during the fourth quarter of Boston’s 103-86 Game 1 victory.
He rose for a dunk before Kentavious Caldwell-Pope caught him during the contest, sending Tatum down on his right side.
Officials reviewed the play and assessed Caldwell-Pope a flagrant 1. Tatum stayed in the game and finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds.
MRI confirms bone bruise
An initial X-ray showed no fracture, and Tatum said the pain had begun to ease after Game 1.
He completed part of the next practice before an MRI revealed a distal radius bone bruise.
Boston listed him as doubtful and then ruled him out shortly before Game 2. Joe Mazzulla said Tatum remained day to day and was doing everything possible to return.
Celtics confront Orlando’s physical approach
Al Horford believed the Magic had added extra contact when defending Tatum and said similar incidents had occurred more than once.
Boston had gone 8-2 without Tatum during the regular season, although both defeats came against Orlando.
The injury ended one of the NBA’s longest active postseason appearance streaks. It also forced the Celtics to protect a series lead without the player who had been available for every playoff game of his career.
