Home Basketball After the Celtics’ loss to the Warriors, Jayson Tatum provided an update on his sprained ankle

After the Celtics’ loss to the Warriors, Jayson Tatum provided an update on his sprained ankle

Basketball — 12/20/2023

The Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics played another thrilling game as the Warriors ended Boston’s five-game winning streak. Perhaps there was a sigh of relief early on when Jayson Tatum left the game in the first quarter with an injured ankle but quickly returned to start the second.

Jayson Tatum shares update on sprained ankle after loss to Warriors

Jaylen Brown was generally in command, driving the pace in transition, getting out, and running to increase the tempo. He had a dominant night before letting up on the gas pedal in crunch time. Al Horford made his presence felt in Kristaps Porzingis’ absence with 13 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists, and Neemias Queta got his first NBA double-double, which could have been his greatest performance of the season.

Derrick White carried the most of the load with 30 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, nailing seven threes on 11-24 shooting. He made three triples and had three blocks in the first quarter, with some of the game’s biggest rejections bothering Stephen Curry down the stretch. When Curry took control down the stretch, White scored some key threes for the Celtics, giving the Warriors the lead; his last put the Celtics up 121-118.

Tatum showed some attacking prowess, but he was not moving or guarding with as much power as he was in last May’s horror game 7 scenario against the Miami Heat. He had 15 points, seven assists, and eight rebounds while shooting 29.4% from the field.

Jayson Tatum Sheds Light On Injury Sustained In Celtics-Warriors

“I mean, it’s swollen,” said the three-time All-Star forward. “I just sprained my ankle in the first quarter, stepped on somebody’s foot, rolled on it, and, you know, went to the back to get it looked at.”

Throughout the game, he was open about how it affected him.

“I mean, not to make excuses, but when you sprain your ankle, it swells up and becomes stiff.” It just makes moving a little more difficult, but I was still out there. If you go out there and play, I don’t think you can make any excuses.”

The Celtics will take on the Sacramento Kings tonight in the second part of their back-to-back. Porzingis should return, with Horford presumably resting; Tatum is not currently listed as injured.