Jayson Tatum’s electrifying comeback has dominated NBA headlines, capturing the attention of fans and analysts throughout the season. Tatum suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in his left leg during the second game of the 2025 NBA playoffs while playing against the New York Knicks.
Remarkably, he returned to playing less than 10 months after experiencing this potentially career-threatening injury.
Boston Celtics to Rest Jayson Tatum Against Atlanta Hawks
Although Tatum has shown flashes of being his old self, the Boston Celtics want to remain cautious. They are being especially careful with Tatum as the postseason approaches. The Celtics thrived during Tatum’s absence, likely fueling his return.
The Celtics holds a 50-24 record, second in the Eastern Conference. They are four games behind the first-place Detroit Pistons with eight games to play. Pistons star Cade Cunningham is out with a collapsed lung, but the Celtics seem more focused on staying healthy for the postseason.
MORE: Bobby Portis Boldly States There’s Only 2 Superstars ‘Worthy’ of the NBA MVP Debate This Year
They are less concerned about catching the Pistons. This caution is why Tatum will sit out against the Atlanta Hawks.
“The Celtics say Jayson Tatum will not play Monday night against Atlanta on the second night of a back-to-back,” reported Marc Stein of the Stein Line.
The Celtics say Jayson Tatum will not play Monday night against Atlanta on the second night of a back-to-back.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) March 30, 2026
The Celtics beat the red-hot Charlotte Hornets 114-99 on Sunday. Tatum led the win with 32 points, eight assists, and five rebounds. He looked like his old self. Tatum has struggled with his shot since his return, but showed no issues Sunday.
He shot 12-of-23 from the field and 5-of-10 from beyond the arc. This season, he is averaging 18.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. He is shooting 38.6% from the field in 11 games.
Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzales, and Jordan Walsh could fill in for Tatum. Scheierman, the 30th pick out of Creighton in 2024, is now a Celtics fan favorite. He is averaging just 5.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game this year.
However, he scored 14 points in the win over the Hornets. He went 3-of-7 from 3-point range and has recently endeared himself to Celtics fans. The Hawks have been one of the league’s best teams this month.
The Hawks started the season 27-31, then went on an 11-game winning streak. They have won 15 of their last 17 games. Now, they are 42-33 and are out of the play-in, sitting in the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. Of course, one of those two losses was a 109-102 defeat in Boston last week.
The Celtics and Hawks will tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday night.
