This year, the Boston Celtics stormed into the postseason looking every bit like title favorites, boasting a dominant 61-21 regular season record. But it didn’t take long for them to realize that the Orlando Magic weren’t just bringing skill to this series but they were bringing serious physicality too.
Game 1 and Game 2 saw the Celtics claim hard-fought victories, but they came at a cost: Jayson Tatum suffered an injury on April 20, while Kristaps Porziņģis was left bleeding from the head after taking an elbow from Goga Bitadze on April 23.
After Orlando’s gritty win (95-93) in Game 3, trimming Boston’s series lead to 2-1, all eyes are now on Game 4, and the big question is: Will Jayson Tatum be playing tonight (April 27)?
Jayson Tatum’s Status vs. The Orlando Magic
Fortunately for Celtics fans, there’s some good news. According to the latest injury report from ESPN, Tatum is not listed on the injury report for Game 4. Tatum had a strong start to the series, putting up 17 points and helping Boston secure the Game 1 victory (103-86).
However disaster struck late in the fourth quarter when he took a nasty fall, landing hard on his right wrist. Medical evaluation revealed a right distal radius bone bruise, forcing him to sit out Game 2. Now with Tatum officially cleared to play, Boston will get a major boost, especially after their disappointing Game 3 loss.
“All I can tell you is, at the end of the day, he’s doing whatever he can, every minute of the 24 hours, to put himself in position to try and be out there on the court. I trust his process, trust his mindset, trust the people around him that help put him in position, and that’s all we can do,” said head coach Joe Mazzulla about Tatum.
Tatum’s return is massive for the Celtics as they look to regain control of the series, but there is still some concern heading into tonight’s game. Jaylen Brown, Boston’s other superstar, has been listed as “questionable” due to a right knee posterior impingement.
Brown has been outstanding so far this postseason, averaging 23.7 points per game. His presence is crucial, especially against an Orlando team that has proven to be physically relentless on both ends of the court.
“There might be a fight break out or something. It’s starting to feel like it’s not even basketball, and the refs are not controlling their environment … If we want to fight, we can do that. We can fight to see who goes to the second round,” said Brown about playing against Orlando after the Game 3 loss.
Jaylen Brown was asked by @GwashburnGlobe about how the Celtics can respond to the Magic’s fouls:
“There might be a fighter break out or something. It’s starting to feel like it's not even basketball, and the refs is not controlling their environment.”
“If we want to fight it,… pic.twitter.com/En9T4aUBGH
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell)
Adding to the injury report, Jrue Holiday has officially been ruled “out” for Game 4 due to a right hamstring strain.
As the Celtics and Magic gear up for what promises to be another intense showdown Boston fans can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Tatum will be back on the court. Game 4 is shaping up to be a battle, and with Tatum ready to go, the Celtics will be looking to swing the momentum back in their favor.
Key Players of the Celtics to Look for in Game 4
According to the latest injury report Magic’s Jalen Suggs and Moritz Wagner are listed as out for Game 4. However their absence is unlikely to impact the Magic roster significantly, as both players have been missing since the start of the playoffs.
This means the Celtics will be facing a relatively healthy and full-strength Orlando squad tonight.
As mentioned before Tatum remains a critical piece for the Celtics’ success. His scoring ability, leadership, and versatility on the court are essential, especially in the absence of key players. However with Brown sidelined, relying solely on Tatum will not be enough to carry the Celtics through the game.
The Celtics must look for significant contributions beyond Tatum. Kristaps Porziņģis, averaging 10.7 points and Derrick White, with 21.0 points per game this postseason, will be crucial tonight.
