According to Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum is dealing with a `severe` bone bruise in his wrist and is listed as doubtful for Friday`s Game 3 against the Orlando Magic. In addition, Jrue Holiday (right hamstring strain) and Jaylen Brown (right knee posterior impingement) are listed as questionable for the third game.
Mazzulla stated during a Thursday interview on 98.5 The Sports Hub that Tatum is `day-to-day` with the severe bruise. He noted that Tatum “progressively gotten a little bit better each day” and “did everything you can possibly do” before Game 2 to try and play but “just wasn`t able to do it.”
Tatum sustained the wrist injury during a hard fall in the Celtics` opening game win (103-86) last Sunday, causing him to miss Wednesday`s Game 2, which Boston won 109-100.
During the interview, conducted before Holiday and Brown`s statuses were updated, Mazzulla mentioned there was “a chance” Tatum could play Friday. He also made a comment (possibly joking, it`s hard to discern with him) about not speaking to team doctors and therefore couldn`t confirm if the injury specifically requires time off.
Mazzulla emphasized Tatum`s dedication, stating, “All I can tell you is, at the end of the day, he`s doing whatever he can, every minute of the 24 hours to put himself in position to try and be out there on the court.” He added, “I trust his process, trust his mindset, trust the people around him that help put him in position and that`s all we can do.”
Boston`s win on Wednesday indicated they can manage this series without Tatum, provided other key players are healthy. However, if Holiday and Brown are also out, the Celtics will face a significantly tougher challenge, reducing their margin for error as the playoffs advance.
