BOSTON — Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum has been cleared to play Friday night against the Dallas Mavericks, marking his first appearance this season following nearly 10 months of recovery from Achilles tendon surgery.
The All-Star’s playing status was officially changed Friday afternoon before the Celtics host Dallas at home. Tatum underwent surgery to fix a torn right Achilles tendon he sustained during Boston’s playoff series against New York last spring.
Just one day earlier, team officials had listed Tatum as questionable for Friday’s contest. This represented the first time all season that he wasn’t designated as out while continuing his rehabilitation from the injury that occurred in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Knicks in May.
The star player had previously expressed his desire to make his comeback during a home game at TD Garden.
The Celtics enter tonight’s matchup with a 41-21 record, placing them second in the Eastern Conference standings.
