Jayson Tatum is dealing with a left ankle injury, raising concerns for the Celtics as the regular season nears its end.
Although the injury doesn’t appear to be serious, Boston is expected to proceed with caution. The playoffs are approaching, and the No. 2 seed in the East is nearly locked in. How the team manages Tatum’s recovery could be key to their postseason success.
Flagrant Foul and Injury
In the Celtics’ 113–95 road win over the Sacramento Kings, Tatum hurt his left ankle. With 3:35 left in the third quarter, Tatum knocked down a three-pointer over Domantas Sabonis, but as he landed, Sabonis slid into his landing space.
Tatum stepped on Sabonis’ foot, twisted his ankle, and immediately crumpled to the floor in pain.
Officials reviewed the play and assessed Sabonis a flagrant 1 foul for invading the shooter’s landing area—a dangerous play that the league has increasingly cracked down on.
Tatum was helped to the bench but returned to shoot his free throws before exiting the game for good. He finished with a game-high 25 points.
Following the game, Sabonis expressed remorse:
“I feel horrible. I’ve had a crazy month myself, personally, and you never want that to happen. So, I apologize.”
Injury Update and Outlook
Despite the scare, there’s cautious optimism about Tatum’s condition. He told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne he’s ‘sore’ but plans to be ‘careful,’ especially since he’s had issues with his left ankle before.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla echoed a calm tone, saying Tatum is “icing it” and “getting treatment.” The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach added that Tatum left the arena with just a slight limp—no crutches or walking boot.
Tatum is currently listed as questionable for the Celtics’ next game. He’s being monitored day-to-day. With the playoffs coming up and Boston near the top of the East, the team is expected to manage his minutes carefully to keep him healthy. It will cause a problem, but the Celtics are very positive about it.
