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Apr 30, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) prepares to take a foul shot against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
A nightmare for the Boston Celtics for Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night.
Jayson Tatum isn't playing.
The Celtics weren't even supposed to string this series out to seven games, but their failure to take care of business and make shots earlier in the series has brought it to this do-or-die clash. And now their superstar won't be a part of it.
Boston spent most of the season without Tatum as he recovered from his torn Achilles, but he was supposed to be all the difference in the playoffs now that he was back and had shaken the rust off.
For the Celtics to get more contributions out of Tatum, though, they'll have to first get past the 76ers without him.
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Why isn't Jayson Tatum playing tonight?
Tatum is out due to knee stiffness, an injury that first popped up in Game 6.
He exited Game 6 in the third quarter and didn't return, but after the game, everyone acted like it was no big deal.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla went so far as to say Tatum wasn't even injured.
He wasn't on the injury report for Game 7 until mid-morning on Saturday, when he was added with a questionable tag.
And now, a couple hours before the game, he was ruled out.
It pushes everyone into bigger roles, although given that they spent most of the year playing without Tatum, maybe that's a comfortable enough spot to be in.
It also raises the question of how hurt he is. Will he be back for Game 1 of a potential next series?
That's a postgame question, though. First, the Celtics have to win without JT.
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