Boston has a firm grip on the series against Orlando, now leading 3-1, and it looks like they’re not backing down.
Jayson Tatum and the Celtics are heading back to TD Garden with a chance to close it out in Game 5. But the focus is on Tatum—will he be ready to play after a tense Game 4 and some sideline drama with Orlando head coach Jamahl Mosley?
Let’s dive into the details.
Tatum Injury Update: Cleared to Play in Game 5
Let’s address the elephant in the room: Yes, Jayson Tatum is set to play tonight.
After tweaking his wrist in Game 1 and sitting out Game 2 due to a bone bruise, Tatum has bounced back like nothing ever happened. He’s been on fire ever since—dropping 36 points in Game 3, then following it up with 37 in Game 4. With Game 5 back in Boston, he’s not even listed on the injury report.
Celtics fans can breathe easy. The key takeaway here is that Tatum isn’t just scoring—he’s doing it under pressure. Despite the physical play Orlando has thrown his way, including three flagrant fouls this series, Tatum has kept his composure.
Even when Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley tried to get in his head last game, Tatum didn’t flinch—he just kept playing his game.
If anything, Tatum’s been the clear MVP of this series for Boston. No doubt about it.
Celtics Banged Up, But Locked In
Tatum’s good to go, but Boston’s injury report isn’t entirely clear.
Jaylen Brown (right knee posterior impingement) is questionable for tonight’s game. He’s fought through it all series, but that knee is clearly bothering him. Jrue Holiday remains out with a right hamstring strain, sidelined since Game 2.
MORE: 2025 NBA Mock Draft
However, Al Horford has stepped up in his absence, showing he still has plenty left in the tank—evidenced by his five blocks in Game 4.
Then there’s Kristaps Porzingis, who didn’t let a head gash from Game 2—requiring stitches—slow him down. He bounced back strong and caused problems for the Magic in the last game.
Despite the bumps and bruises, Boston remains the deeper, more disciplined team in this series. It hasn’t even played its best basketball yet, shooting just 34.8% from deep, yet they’re up 3-1. If they find their rhythm from beyond the arc and get one more dominant performance from Tatum, this series could be wrapped up.