Jalen Brunson led the Knicks to a comfortable win against the Celtics to take the driver’s seat again in their series. The Knicks came out on top in Madison Square Garden and won the game 121-113. However, the biggest news of the game was not the Knicks’ victory but the Celtics losing Jayson Tatum to what seems to be an Achilles injury.
After the game, Jalen Brunson entered the press conference room to speak to the media. Before the media could ask any questions, Brunson showcased true sportsmanship and sent his prayers for the ailing Tatum. Brunson interrupted a reporter’s question and said, “Sorry, sorry. Just wanted (to say) prayers out to JT, man. That’s all I just want to make that and say that first and foremost, thoughts and prayers with him. And just praying for the best.”
Jayson Tatum went down in the final minutes of the fourth quarter and incurred a non-contact injury. Unable to put any pressure on his right foot, Tatum was taken off the floor on a wheelchair and immediately went back to the locker room. While we have no official confirmation other than Joe Mazzulla claiming it’s a lower-body injury, doctors on social media diagnosed this injury as an Achilles’ issue, one of the worst injuries a basketball player can face.
What Does This Mean For The Knicks And Celtics?
With a 3-1 lead over the defending champions, the Knicks are headed to Boston for Game 5 of this series. Winning both Games 1 and 2 in the TD Garden, the Knicks will be fairly confident to close out the series as the Celtics are now severely shorthanded without Tatum.
Tatum, on the other hand, was putting up an iconic performance against the Knicks in Game 4 after struggling in the first three games. He scored 42 points before he was taken off the court in a wheelchair in Game 4. In comparison, he averaged only 19.3 points per game in the first three games of the series. Therefore, this injury is a major blow to the Celtics as Tatum had only just started to find his form.
Considering that Game 5 is at home for Boston, they will look to seek revenge on the Knicks for sweeping the Celtics at home in TD Garden. If Brown finds his Finals MVP-caliber performance in the next game, only then will the Celtics have any hope of forcing a Game 7 in this series.
