The Boston Celtics defeated the Sacramento Kings 113-95 on Monday night to get to 53-19 on the season, but Celtics fans went to bed concerned.
What looked like a worst-case scenario manifested for Boston in the third quarter when Celtics megastar Jayson Tatum injured his left ankle and fell to the hardwood writhing in agonizing pain.
After rising up for a 3-point jumper on the wing, Tatum landed on Domantas Sabonis’s foot and appeared to turn his ankle badly.
Tatum left the game supported physically by players and staff and did not return.
It was a blood-curdling sight to behold for the Celtics with the NBA playoffs less than a month away.
Luckily for Boston, updates on Tatum following the game revealed that the injury might not be as serious as it looked in real time.
Here’s what three reporters on the Celtics beat had to say in the hours following the game…
“No boot for Jayson Tatum. An encouraging sign for how his left ankle is doing.”
Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach:
“Jayson Tatum isn’t being made available for interviews. He’s at his locker eating and joking with teammates and wearing sneakers on both feet though.”
“Joe Mazzulla says Jayson Tatum seems to be doing OK after spraining his left ankle. He later added, “I know he’ll do anything and everything to make sure he gets better.”
All in all, Tatum’s spirits sound high, which wouldn’t be the case if he thought he was dealing with something serious or season-threatening.
It sounds like a crisis may have been averted.
Next up for the Celtics: a road battle against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday.
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