Game 4 at Madison Square Garden was electric, and the Knicks walked away with a 3-1 lead over the defending champs. But even that hype couldn’t drown out the collective gasp when Jayson Tatum went down. The Celtics’ Star was on a tear, dropping 42 points on 16-of-28 shooting, doing everything he could to keep Boston in it. But then everything changed.
Next thing you know, with just over three minutes left on the clock, disaster struck. Jaylen Brown fumbled a loose ball, and as Tatum lunged to recover it, he collapsed in pain. Concern erupted immediately—trainers saw Tatum unable to rise and carried him off the court. Sources say the 27-year-old will undergo an MRI on Tuesday.
Still, it’s hard to ignore just how brilliant Tatum had been before the injury. On top of the 42-piece, he tallied eight boards, four assists, four steals, and two blocks—just filling the stat sheet like the All-Star he is. For someone who’s only missed one playoff game in his entire career and has never sat out more than 10 in any season, this was new territory—and tough to watch.
The NBA fraternity rushed to show support. Former Knicks guard Stephon Marbury sent out a heartfelt message on IG story, writing, “The basketball Gods will be kind to him! Godspeed.” Karl-Anthony Towns followed with. “I just put my head down and prayed to my mother, prayed to God to put protection over him and comfort, whatever the injury may be. I hope it’s minor,” he said as per Hoopshall.
May 12, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) is helped off the court by after an injury in the second half during game four of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Tatum would leave the game with an injury after this play. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
In fact, Towns didn’t just watch from a distance—he walked up to Tatum as he lay on the court. This kind of thing hit close to home. After all, Towns himself battled a Grade 3 calf injury last year with Minnesota. “I’ve been in a situation like that with my calf,” Towns said via CLNS’s Bobby Manning. Even the Celtics locker room seemed shaken, knowing exactly what’s at stake.
Jaylen Brown & Celtics Locker Room Reacts to Jayson Tatum Injury
Still riding high from their Game 4 comeback, the Knicks had plenty to celebrate. But when Jayson Tatum collapsed in pain late in the fourth, everything paused. The Celtics star had left it all out there. And even though he didn’t get to finish what could’ve been a historic night, the respect poured in. Trainers lifted him off the floor; the Garden crowd rose to its feet, and the Knicks huddle broke apart to applaud.
At the other end, even Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla—usually the steely type—couldn’t hide what he felt. “It’s tough to watch a guy like him get carried off like that,” he admitted. Tatum, clearly emotional, was in tears as he was wheeled off. And honestly, watching him in that state seemed to hit the Celtics hard.
Meanwhile, Jaylen Brown, who’s been with Tatum for nearly his whole career, couldn’t find the right words. “It’s tough. There’s not really a lot to say,” Brown said softly. Celtics reporter Doa Dalzell noted it was “the most quiet” she had seen him, which says a lot. This wasn’t just about losing a game—it was about seeing their guy hurting in a way they hadn’t before.
Now, all the Celtics can do is wait. “The loss is the loss. More importantly, it’s Jayson I’m worried about,” veteran Al Horford said honestly. With an MRI scheduled, and no clear update yet, the timing couldn’t be worse for the champs—and the uncertainty is the hardest part.
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