BOSTON — Jayson Tatum is questionable to play in Saturday’s Game 7 vs the Philadelphia 76ers with what the Celtics have described as “left knee soreness.”
Tatum did not play in the final 15 minutes of Game 6 on Friday and was on the exercise bike in the hall for most of the fourth quarter. But afterwards, he explained that he wasn’t particularly concerned.
“You guys probably saw when I went to the back, saw me on the bike, my
leg just was a little stiff when I came out in the third quarter,” Tatum said. “But just kind of assessing the moment, the game was a little out of reach.”
In Thursday’s postgame press conference, Tatum said he was available to play in Saturday’s Game, something that Joe Mazzulla confirmed in a conference call with reporters on Friday afternoon.
Tatum was also not listed on the Celtics’ official injury report on Thursday night.
“I expect to play,” Tatum said. “It was my other leg, not the one I injured last year. I mean, I wasn’t like overly concerned. Shit, I came out at four minutes, like I was supposed to. Just kind of assessed the game — he took the starters out fairly early in the fourth quarter.”
But, on Saturday at 1:30pm — six hours ahead of tip-off — Tatum’s injury status changed.
For the 76ers, Paul George is also a late addition to the report; he’s listed as probable with illness.
If Tatum were to sit, Baylor Scheierman or Jordan Walsh would likely take his place in the starting lineup. Payton Pritchard, who has been the team’s third-leading scorer all year, could also enter the starting lineup ahead of Game 7.
Celtics-76ers tips off at 7:30pm ET.
