With the playoffs creeping up and Boston practically locked into the No. 2 seed, Joe Mazzulla has a tricky task—winning games without running his players into the ground. At this point, keeping everyone healthy might be just as important as stacking up wins. That’s why the Celtics will be down two starters on Monday when they face the Jazz at TD Garden. Jayson Tatum has been racking up minutes all season, and after going 45 minutes deep in Saturday’s win over the Lakers, he knew some rest was coming.
Al Horford wasn’t far behind, putting in 37 minutes of work in that game. Sure enough, Boston pulled the plug before tip-off on Monday, officially ruling out Tatum (knee) and downgrading Horford (toe). As for Kristaps Porzingis? He’s still out sick, missing his sixth straight game.
Tatum has suited up for 60 of Boston’s 64 games this season, and the Celtics have held their own without him, going 3-1 in his absence—including last Wednesday’s win over Portland. He’s been putting up elite numbers, averaging 27.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.1 steals while shooting 45.5% from the field and 35.5% from deep.
Injury Report update:
Al Horford (left big toe sprain) – OUT
Kristaps Porzingis (illness, non-Covid) – OUT
Jayson Tatum (right knee tendinopathy) – OUT https://t.co/etXJj3mf4C
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 10, 2025
Managing that workload has been a constant conversation between the 6x All-Star and head coach Joe Mazzulla. “We’re always in constant communication with each other,” Tatum said on Saturday. He knows he won’t play every game the rest of the way but sees these final weeks as a chance to build stamina for the playoffs. “Certain nights you might play 45, 44 minutes,” he explained. “So just kind of getting your body ready for that.”
Tatum’s approach to workload management isn’t just about staying fresh—it’s about ensuring he’s at his peak when it matters most. And while he’s focused on preparing for the grind of the postseason, his impact throughout the regular season has been undeniable. Despite his consistency and high-level production, the recognition he deserves often seems to fall short.
When will Jayson Tatum get his flowers?
Picture this: a resume boasting six All-Star nods, four All-NBA selections, two Olympic gold medals, and an NBA championship. Now add being one of only three players in history to surpass 13,000 points and 4,000 rebounds before hitting 27. That’s Tatum’s track record, and it should make him a household name among basketball fans.
Tatum sums it up perfectly when he said, “If you took the name and the face away from all my accomplishments and you’re just like, ‘This is what this Player A accomplished at 26,’ people would talk about me a lot differently,” in an interview with The Washington Post. His words hit home, right?
Standing 6-foot-8, Tatum does it all. He scores from every angle, creates plays, and locks down opponents on defense. He’s a matchup nightmare on both ends of the court, and his durability is something to envy—he’s never missed more than eight games in a season and has started all 113 of his playoff appearances. I mean, in today’s league, that’s practically superhero status.
Jan 22, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) shoots against LA Clippers guard Kobe Brown (21) during overtime at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images
So why is his brilliance often overlooked? Maybe it’s because Tatum isn’t one to chase the spotlight or stir up drama. In a world that adores flashy moves and big personalities, his quiet, relentless work ethic is easy to miss. With the Celtics poised for another Finals run, it’s high time we give this star the credit he truly deserves.
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