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Jayson Tatum Injury Update for Game 2 vs. the Magic

Jayson Tatum Injury Update for Game 2 vs. the Magic

NBA News

Updated:

By: Alex Hunter

UPDATE 4/23/25: Tatum has been ruled out. Al Horford ($4,300) will get the start.

UPDATE: Surprisingly, Tatum has been listed as doubtful for Wednesday’s Game 2 vs. the Magic. As mentioned below, Tatum has never missed a playoff game in his eight-year career. Presumably, the Celtics believe they can take care of business in Game 2 without Tatum and want to give him some extra time to heal his hurt wrist. With Tatum likely out Wednesday, Al Horford should start and Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Kristaps Porzingis and Payton Pritchard will see increased usage rates. Boston is 8-2 with Tatum inactive this season, but ironically, both of those losses came against the Magic. Following Tatum being listed as doubtful, the Celtics have moved from a 12.5-point to a 10.5-point favorite for Game 2 on DraftKings Sportsbook.

Jayson Tatum hurt his right wrist on hard fall during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s Game 1 win over the Magic, but the superstar was able to finish the contest. Tatum scored a few times after tweaking his wrist, but once he checked out the game late in the fourth quarter, he immediately grabbed his wrist when he sat on the bench. X-rays on Tatum’s wrist came back negative following the game and ESPN’s Shams Charania is reporting that Tatum is considered day-to-day with a bone bruise.

While there is a chance Tatum is listed as questionable for Wednesday’s Game 2 vs. the Magic, it is very unlikely he sits. Tatum has played through many injuries in the past, most notably a non-displaced fracture in his left wrist during the Celtics’ run to the NBA Finals in 2022, and he has never missed a playoff game during his eight-year career. That being said, with this current wrist injury being to his shooting hand, there is some concern that the ailment could affect Tatum’s shot.

The Duke product is averaging 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and a career-high 6.0 assists per game this season, and Tatum will likely earn All-NBA honors for the fifth time in his career in a few weeks. Tatum is leading the Celtics with a 31.2% usage rate this season and, if he was shockingly out for Game 2, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Kristaps Porzingis and Payton Pritchard would all see expanded roles.

The Celtics won Game 1 vs. the Magic by 17 points and Boston is a 12.5-point home favorite for Wednesday’s Game 2 on DraftKings Sportsbook.

Alex Hunter
Alex Hunter is an avid DFS player and sports handicapper, who has been a proud member of the DraftKings Network team since 2020. He is a data-driven analyst, who earned his bachelor’s degree in communications at Worcester State University and has been in the sports content business for nearly a decade, covering the NBA, NFL and PGA TOUR. Alex is a diehard Boston Celtics fan, who loves to be on the golf course when he isn’t grinding lineups or producing content. For all of Alex’s work or if you need any lineup advice, be sure to follow him @Hunta512 on X.
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