Jayson Tatum injury update: Latest news on Celtics star's ruptured Achilles
NEW YORK — Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum suffered a ruptured right Achilles tendon and underwent a successful surgery on Tuesday, according to the team.
The Celtics star was carried off the court during the fourth quarter of Boston's 121-113 loss in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Monday night. According to information released by the Celtics, the team does not yet have a timetable for Tatum's return but expect a full recovery.
Boston is down 3-1 to the New York Knicks in the best-of-seven series and will try to avoid elimination at home on Wednesday night (7 p.m. ET, TNT).
Tatum was injured with 2:58 remaining in the fourth quarter when he tried to reach for a loose ball. He hit the court after his leg gave out in a non-contact injury and had his head in a towel as he was seen in a wheelchair in a Madison Square Garden tunnel after the game.
Tatum scored 42 points on 16-for-28 shooting, with eight rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocks before the injury. He averaged 26.1 points and 12.0 rebounds in the postseason and missed one previous playoff game when he sat out Game 2 in the first round against the Orlando Magic with a wrist injury. Boston won that game 109-100 behind 36 points from Jaylen Brown.
Jayson Tatum injury updates: Latest news
On Tuesday afternoon, the Boston Celtics released an update on Tatum's status, stating, "Jayson Tatum today underwent successful surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon. No timetable is currently available for his return, but he is expected to make a full recovery. Further updates will be provided when appropriate."
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said after Game 4 on Monday that his team would be up to the task in Game 5, whether the six-time All-Star was in the lineup or not.
"They'll be ready," Mazzulla said. "I mean, that's just who they are. It's been that way. It's the locker room that they have, and they'll be ready. So, you trust the character of the guys in moments like this, and you take it one game at a time,"
After Monday's loss, immediate thoughts were on Tatum and the injury's severity, which was at that time an unknown.
"I talked to the medical staff, they told me it's a lower body injury and he'll get an MRI [Tuesday]," Mazzulla told the media after Game 4. "We'll see where it goes from there."
"I think everybody's concerned with Jayson," Celtics guard Jaylen Brown said, via CBS Sports. "I'm not sure how bad it is. Didn't look great. But I think everybody is kind of more concerned with that."
(This article has been updated with new information.)