BOSTON, April 8, 2026 – Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum will step onto the Madison Square Garden floor Thursday for the first time since rupturing his right Achilles tendon there 11 months ago. The meeting with the New York Knicks could lock up the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference if Boston wins.
“I’m not thrilled to go back,” Tatum said after scoring 23 points in Tuesday’s 113-102 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. “Last time I played there, it was a traumatic experience for me. I knew I’d have to get over that hurdle eventually, so it has to be this Thursday.”
Strong return fuels Boston surge
Tatum, 28, resumed play against the Dallas Mavericks a month ago and the Celtics have gone 13-2 with him in the lineup. His efficiency has trended upward: after shooting below 50 percent in his first 10 games back, he went 8-for-15 Tuesday, the third time in five outings he has cleared the 50 percent mark.
The four-time All-Star has gradually increased his workload, logging a season-high in minutes Tuesday as he readies for what Boston hopes is an extended postseason run. He continues to contribute across the board with rebounding, playmaking and team defense, helping the Celtics create separation from the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Knicks in the standings.
Playoff implications
If seeds remain unchanged, Boston and New York would meet in the Eastern Conference semifinals—the same round in which Tatum was injured late in Game 4 last spring. Despite the memories, he insists Thursday is just another stop on the schedule. “I was going to have to play there at some point,” he said. “Might as well get it out of the way.”
Source: ESPN
