BOSTON — Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum will not play in tonight’s decisive Game 7 matchup against Philadelphia due to left knee stiffness, the team announced approximately 90 minutes before the elimination contest begins.
The absence comes at a critical moment for the Celtics, who face the Philadelphia 76ers in a winner-take-all first-round playoff battle on Saturday evening.
“He just came in today with knee discomfort. The medical team and myself decided for him not to play,” head coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters during his pregame press conference.
Boston has not yet revealed who will take Tatum’s spot in the starting lineup for the crucial matchup.
During Game 6, Tatum temporarily exited the contest in the third quarter to receive unspecified treatment for his calf. The star player is currently just 22 games into his comeback from a torn right Achilles tendon injury that occurred during last season’s postseason run.
Following Game 6, the Celtics minimized concerns about Tatum’s condition. The forward himself described his leg as feeling “a little stiff” after the game. He explained that following a brief evaluation and some time on an exercise bike, he chose not to return because the game’s outcome was already decided and the main rotation players had been removed from action.
