Why Jayson Tatum’s fitness worries might be more worrying than you think

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum ate up the headline coverage of Friday morning’s media ahead of Game 3 in the series against the Orlando Magic. The 27-year-old missed game 2 - a 109-100 win - the last time out with a bone bruise, and he’s once again a major doubt for his side as they enter a crucial point in the campaign.

Tatum is listed as ‘doubtful’ to feature in Game 3 against the Magic with what the Celtics have noted as a ’right distal radius bone bruise’ suffered in Game 1.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said to Boston radio admitted Tatum’s issue was “a severe bone bruise,” and that the star player is “day to day” as far as progress reporting goes.

“He’s progressively gotten a little bit better each day. [Wednesday] he went through all the protocols and did everything he could possibly do up until the last moment to try to play“, he concluded.

Across the regular campaign that saw the Celtics finish in 2nd in the Eastern Conference with a 61-21 record, Tatum proved hugely influential for his side, and averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.1 steals per contest while shooting 45.2% from the field and 34.3% from the three-point range.

But the reason Tatum’s injury is so worrying is that it comes as the latest issue in a list of physical problems plaguing the roster.

Jaylen Brown played in the previous two games, but it listed as ‘questionable’ for Game 3 with a knee issue. A 2024 Finals MVP, Brown averaged 22.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals per contest while shooting 46.3% from the field and 32.4% from the three-point range.

The same goes for Jrue Holiday, a key figure for the Celtics who averaged 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.1 steals per contest while shooting 44.3% from the field and 35.3% from the three-point range. He is also ‘questionable’, with a hamstring pull his problem.

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Game 3 of the Boston Celtics’ first-round playoff series against the Orlando Magic is scheduled for Friday, April 25, 2025, at 7:00 PM Eastern Time at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida.

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