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Boston Celtics superstar forward Jayson Tatum appears to be in good spirits after undergoing surgery on his ruptured Achilles tendon in his right foot.
More NBA news: Celtics Superstar Jayson Tatum Suffers Torn Achilles to End Season
Tatum posted this photo on his personal Instagram after undergoing the surgery.
"Thank you for all the love and support," Tatum wrote.
The 27-year-old star will be sidelined for the remainder of the series—and potentially all of next season—after suffering a significant injury late in the fourth quarter. With the Celtics trailing 3-1 and facing elimination, the timing couldn't be more devastating.
Game 5 is set for Wednesday night.
Tatum exited Game 4 with just over three minutes left in regulation, as Boston called a timeout to sub him out. It was shaping up to be his best performance of the series—he finished with 42 points on 16-of-28 shooting, along with eight rebounds, seven assists, and four steals in 40 minutes.
Across the four games played in the series, Tatum has been averaging 25.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 2.8 steals, while shooting 40 percent from the floor and 37.8 percent from deep.
This marks the first significant injury of Tatum's career. He's largely been a durable presence for Boston, with this season marking the most games he's missed—10 total, including one in the postseason. Before the 2024-25 campaign, his previous high for games missed was eight, which occurred in both the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.
The Celtics will now look to shift their focus to winning Game 5 in front of their home fans and doing it without their best player. Boston has the tools to make a comeback, but it will be an uphill battle doing so without Tatum. This puts a major dent in their chances to repeat and jeopardizes their chances to compete next season and possibly beyond.
Celtics star and 2024 Finals MVP, Jaylen Brown, was defeated in losing his partner in crime.
"We didn't say much," Brown said. "Felt like there wasn't a lot to say. Obviously, [Tatum], everybody's concerned with him."
"I think everybody is kind of at a loss for words, just because, one, losing the game, but obviously the concern with [Tatum]."
This is a massive loss for the Celtics, who will look to do their best to keep their season alive for at least one more game.
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About the writer
Ricardo Sandoval is a Newsweek contributor based in Los Angeles, CA. His focus is sports content. Ricardo has been with Newsweek since 2024 and also writes ... Read more