NEW YORK — Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum will take the court at Madison Square Garden Thursday evening, marking his first appearance at the venue since suffering a devastating Achilles tendon rupture during last year’s postseason.
The Celtics will be shorthanded for their matchup against the New York Knicks, as teammate Jaylen Brown has been sidelined with left Achilles tendinitis.
Boston can clinch the Eastern Conference’s second seed with a win Thursday night, an achievement many considered unlikely given they expected to play most of the season without their star forward.
Tatum’s injury occurred on May 12 during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, when he collapsed on the court in the final quarter of New York’s victory. The Knicks ultimately eliminated the defending champion Celtics in that series.
Following Thursday morning’s practice session at MSG, Tatum shared his emotions with reporters, describing feelings of “nervousness, anxiousness. All the things you probably would expect.”
When asked about his approach to handling the emotional return, Tatum responded: “I think it’s just deciding to face the challenge head-on and put my uniform on.”
Since returning to action on March 6, Tatum has appeared in 15 contests, posting averages of 21.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Following Tuesday’s home win against Charlotte, he admitted he wasn’t “thrilled to go back and play” at the famous Manhattan arena.
“Last time I played there, obviously, it was a traumatic experience for me,” Tatum explained.
During Tatum’s extended recovery period, Brown stepped up with an outstanding campaign for the Celtics. The All-Star guard is posting 28.8 points per game across 70 appearances this season.
