Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum was added to the injury report Saturday afternoon with left knee soreness and is listed as questionable for tonight’s Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden.
The designation came roughly six hours before the decisive matchup that will close the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. Tatum, 28, missed time last season after tearing the Achilles in his right leg on May 5, 2025, but returned in March and had been playing at his usual All-NBA level.
The left knee first drew attention Thursday, when Tatum exited Boston’s 106-93 Game 6 loss with 4:03 remaining in the third quarter. He spent time in the locker room, then rejoined the bench early in the fourth period. Although the team declared him available to return, head coach Joe Mazzulla emptied the bench with Boston trailing 88-65, effectively conceding the contest.
Mazzulla told reporters after Game 6 that Tatum “just got stretched” and was not injured. The coach offered a similar assessment during a Friday conference call, yet the star’s sudden appearance on Saturday’s injury report cast fresh uncertainty on his status.
Game 7 carries historical weight for both franchises. The Celtics and 76ers are meeting in a postseason series for the 23rd time, the most of any pairing in NBA history. Boston has won the past six series between the rivals, a streak that dates to 1982. Tatum and the Celtics have eliminated 76ers center Joel Embiid three times—in 2018, 2020 and 2023.
Boston once led the current series 3-1 but dropped Games 5 and 6. The Celtics are 32-0 all-time when holding a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven set, while Philadelphia is 0-18 when facing that deficit.
Tipoff for Game 7 is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET.
Source: ESPN
