In a surprising turn of events, Celtics' star forward Jayson Tatum missed his first-ever playoff game due to a bone bruise in his right wrist, disrupting Boston's lineup against the Orlando Magic in Game 2. Tatum's absence was strongly felt as the six-time All-Star had been a consistent presence in all 114 prior playoff games during his time with the Celtics. Despite his injury, Tatum's determination to return to the court was evident as he engaged in on-court work before the game under coach Joe Mazzulla's observation.
The Celtics, known for their resilience, faced the challenge of playing without their leading scorer, with veteran Al Horford stepping in for Tatum. Horford expressed concern over the physicality exhibited by the Magic towards Tatum in the previous game, highlighting the intensity of playoff basketball. As the series now moves to Orlando for Game 3, all eyes will be on Tatum's recovery and potential return to the lineup, adding another layer of anticipation to an already intense first-round matchup between these two Eastern Conference contenders.