The Boston Celtics’ quest for a repeat got off to a mixed start on Sunday afternoon. After trailing by a point at halftime, they dominated the second half to pull away from the Orlando Magic for a 103-86 win in Game 1 of their first-round series, but Jayson Tatum appeared to injure his right wrist in the process.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla offered little when asked about Tatum during his postgame availability. “He’s doing good,” Mazzulla said of Tatum, who was spotted going to the X-ray room after the game in which he finished with 17 points, 14 rebounds and four assists, but shot just 8 of 22 from the field.
Early in the fourth quarter, Tatum used a screen from Al Horford off the ball to get some space, and took a pass from Jrue Holiday that led him right to the basket. As Tatum elevated, he was met in the air by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Wendell Carter Jr. The Magic duo sent him crashing to the ground, and he landed awkwardly on his right wrist.
The initial foul was called on Caldwell-Pope, and later upgraded to a flagrant after a lengthy review.
“The illegal contact by Pope and then the ensuing follow through to a player in the air and vulnerable, with a potential for injury, is upgraded to a Flagrant Foul Penalty 1,” crew chief Zach Zarba said during the broadcast.
Tatum remained in the game, though he did miss both of the ensuing free throws. He got his wrist taped and actually had some of his best scoring moments of the day after the scary fall, but appeared to be favoring it as the fourth quarter progressed.
When Tatum checked out of the game, he kept his right hand by his side and only used his left hand to high-five his teammates. In the closing seconds, the broadcast showed him grabbing at his wrist and flexing it as he sat on the bench.
It’s good news for the Celtics that Tatum was able to finish the game, but he’ll surely undergo imaging beyond just the X-ray to make sure there’s no serious injury. Tatum’s status will be something to monitor for the defending champions ahead of Game 2 and beyond.