Jayson Tatum to Return for Game 3 Despite Injury Concerns

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum is set to take the court for Game 3 of the first-round series against the Orlando Magic on Friday, despite suffering a bone bruise on his right distal radius during Game 1. Initially listed as questionable, Tatum’s presence is a significant boost for the Celtics.

Meanwhile, Jaylen Brown, who was also listed as questionable due to a posterior impingement in his right knee, has been cleared to play. The Celtics, however, will be missing Jrue Holiday, sidelined by a strain in his right hamstring.

Speaking on 98.5 The Sports Hub, Mazzulla mentioned Tatum is coping with a “severe bone bruise” but has been improving daily. He explained that Tatum endured a painful fall on his wrist during the team’s opening 103-86 victory last Sunday, which then ruled him out for the 109-100 win in Game 2 on Wednesday.

Mazzulla acknowledged in the interview that while there’s a “chance” Tatum will play on Friday, he humorously noted he doesn’t consult with team doctors, making it unclear if there’s a need for Tatum to rest further. Nevertheless, Mazzulla has faith in Tatum’s relentless dedication to recovery and trusts the support from those around him.

Despite the challenges, Boston’s performance on Wednesday highlighted their ability to secure wins even in Tatum’s absence. However, losing both Tatum and Holiday would have significantly tested the team’s depth, hence Tatum’s expected return is eagerly anticipated.