A Devastating Blow for the Celtics
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum has been released from a New York hospital after undergoing surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon. The injury occurred late in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks, abruptly ending Tatum’s season and delivering a crushing blow to the defending champions.
The 27-year-old star underwent surgery on Tuesday and has remained in New York during the early stages of recovery. On Thursday, he rejoined his teammates at their hotel for the first time since being carried off the court during the Celtics’ 121-113 loss.
Locker Room Support and Perspective
Celtics guard Sam Hauser reflected on the emotional toll of losing their team leader.
“It sucks to see someone go down like that who doesn’t deserve it,” Hauser said during Friday’s shootaround. “But he wouldn’t want more than us to just keep winning. He seems to be in good spirits. We’re definitely thinking about him and trying to get some wins for him.”
The injury comes with an estimated nine-month recovery timeline, mirroring Kevin Durant’s Achilles tear from the 2019 NBA Finals. Durant missed the entire following season — a precedent that sets clear expectations for Tatum’s road ahead.
Beyond Basketball: A Moment of Brotherhood
According to Celtics guard Payton Pritchard, Tatum’s brief reunion with the team was more about brotherhood than strategy.
“We didn’t talk about basketball at all,” Pritchard said. “It’s bigger than basketball now. It’s just about checking in as a friend and seeing how he’s doing.”
That sentiment underscores the emotional weight Tatum carries within the locker room, beyond his contributions on the floor.
A Historic Comeback Still Possible
As the series shifts to Game 6 at Madison Square Garden, Boston faces a win-or-go-home scenario. A victory would force a decisive Game 7 at TD Garden on Monday.
Should the Celtics rally from a 3-1 deficit, they would join a select group. Only 13 teams in NBA history have come back to win a best-of-seven series after trailing 3-1.
The mission now is clear: survive and advance, in honor of their sidelined star.
