NEW YORK — The tension in Madison Square Garden reached a fever pitch on Monday night as the Boston Celtics faced the New York Knicks in a critical Game 4 matchup. As the Celtics held onto a substantial lead, an unfortunate twist came late in the fourth quarter when star forward Jayson Tatum suffered an apparent leg injury, sending shockwaves through the arena.
Tatum’s injury occurred while pursuing a loose ball, resulting in a collision with Knicks forward OG Anunoby. The Celtics forward’s right leg buckled, leading him to collapse to the floor. In visible distress, Tatum buried his face in a towel as he clutched his leg just above the ankle. As the game paused following a Knicks basket and a subsequent timeout called by Boston, team personnel assisted Tatum to his feet, but he was unable to put weight on the affected leg.
Prior to the incident, Tatum had been delivering a standout performance, contributing 42 points on an impressive 16-for-28 shooting. His offensive prowess had been a key factor in the Celtics’ commanding lead, which stretched to 14 points during the match. However, the tide turned dramatically after his exit, with the Knicks capitalizing on the momentum shift to mount a comeback.
This defeat marked a significant moment for the Celtics, who had enjoyed substantial leads in their previous two games. The loss brought the series to a precarious position, leaving Boston one game away from elimination as the Knicks moved to within a win of advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in a quarter-century.
Following the game, Tatum was seen in a wheelchair being taken through the arena’s tunnel, raising concerns about the severity of his injury. With Game 5 scheduled for Wednesday night in Boston, the Celtics will be hopeful for a swift recovery for their star player as they aim to extend their playoff run.
As the playoffs progress, the stakes continue to heighten, and the impact of injuries on team dynamics becomes even more pronounced. The Celtics will need to rally together and find ways to fill the void left by their leading scorer if they wish to keep their championship aspirations alive.