The Boston Celtics are between a rock and a hard place after dropping Game 4 to the New York Knicks, 121-113, and losing superstar Jayson Tatum to a devastating non-contact injury in the last minutes of the fourth quarter.
The Knicks now lead the series 3-1, and only 13 teams in NBA history have ever come back from such a deficit. To win three games in a row against a playoff caliber team is already a feat in and of itself, but the loss of Tatum — who was in the middle of stellar performance with 42 points, eight rebounds, and four assists on nearly 60% shooting — makes the Celtics’ challenge even more difficult.
Jaylen Brown Responds to Jayson Tatum’s Injury
Jaylen Brown, now tasked with leading the team in Tatum’s absence, spoke candidly postgame about how the team should move forward.
“Take the night, and you get back up tomorrow,” said the All-Star. “Tomorrow’s a new day. And you go from there.”
Brown’s message was clear — the Celtics must keep their head up and not dwell on their dire situation if they want to keep any hopes of extending the series. Instead, they have to regroup and prepare for Game 5 at home in TD Garden.
Tatum’s injury looked severe, and he had to be helped off the court and taken to the locker room in a wheelchair. With his status uncertain and speculation swirling about a potential Achilles injury, Brown’s advice to his teammates is more important than ever.
The Boston Celtics are now in a real win-or-go-home situation. The Knicks have all of the momentum on their side after a commanding Game 4 victory in Madison Square Garden. New York has been nothing short of relentless, as no lead in this series has been safe from the Knicks.
When Brown was asked about Tatum’s injury and its implications for the next game, he responded, “I guess you just take it as it comes. You get whatever information is needed. And tomorrow, we’ll know more, we’ll find out more. And then, we’ve still got basketball to play on our home floor, so we come out and play Celtic basketball.”
As for the New York Knicks, their ever-persevering mindset has made its way to the forefront of this series. Entering it as the lower seed and the underdog against the defending champions, the Knicks have paved their path through the postseason and are entering conversations surrounding potential championship contenders.
