A dangerous closeout by Domantas Sabonis sent Jayson Tatum to the locker room during Monday night’s Celtics-Kings game.
While attempting a third-quarter 3-pointer at the Golden1 Center, Tatum landed on Sabonis’ foot and turned his left ankle. The Celtics superstar rolled on the court in visible pain and had to be helped to the bench.
Sabonis, Sacramento’s All-Star center, was called for a Flagrant 1 foul for sliding his foot into Tatum’s landing zone.
After a Boston timeout, Tatum was able to walk back onto the court and take his free throws. But he then walked straight down the tunnel toward Boston’s locker room.
Minutes later, the Celtics announced Tatum was doubtful to return with a left ankle sprain. He was on triple-double pace before the injury, tallying 25 points on 8-of-15 shooting (5-of-9 from three), eight assists and seven rebounds in 26 minutes. The Celtics led 79-68 at the time and went on to win 113-95 for their sixth straight victory.
“He seemed to be doing OK,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters in his postgame news conference. “He’s icing it right now. I didn’t see the play, but they made the right call. It was a flagrant foul, and fortunate that he was able to shoot the free throw. Just taking care of it right now.”
Sabonis offered a public apology after the game, telling reporters he felt “horrible” for the play.
Tatum’s status now will be the No. 1 Celtics storyline as the playoffs approach. Boston has 10 regular-season games remaining and is all but locked into the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, with a matchup against the Atlanta Hawks or Orlando Magic likely awaiting in the first round.
“I haven’t had a chance to talk to him yet, but I know he’ll do anything and everything to make sure he just gets better,” Mazzulla told reporters.
A first-team All-NBA selection in each of the last three years, Tatum is a shoo-in for a fourth straight selection this season. The 27-year-old entered Monday’s game ranked fourth in the league in scoring and first among Celtics players in points, rebounds and assists per game.
Tatum also is one of the NBA’s most durable superstars, ranking in the top 10 in minutes played this season. He often turns down opportunities to take nights off, especially when the Celtics are away from TD Garden. He’s missed just one road game this season, and he and guard Derrick White were the only Boston players to play both ends of this week’s back-to-back in Portland and Sacramento.
“Kids might’ve got this ticket for their birthday or Christmas, knowing that’s the only time I get to come in town,” Tatum told reporters after a January win in Houston. “That’s why I never want to miss road games.”
Tatum’s health now will take precedence, however, as the Celtics continue their six-game Western Conference road trip in Phoenix (Wednesday), San Antonio (Saturday) and Memphis (next Monday). If he is forced to miss time — or if Mazzulla takes the cautious route and sits his superstar until the playoffs — one player who could see additional minutes is rookie Baylor Scheierman.
Primarily a G League player until February, Scheierman has seen his playing time spike of late. With core reserves Al Horford and Sam Hauser sitting out Monday, the first-round draft pick played 28 minutes against Sacramento, including the entire fourth quarter after Tatum’s injury.
Scheierman has logged 10-plus minutes in five straight games as Boston has rested players and managed injuries. He finished Monday’s with nine points on 3-for-6 shooting (all 3-pointers), seven rebounds, one assist, two steals and one block, and the Celtics outscored the Kings by 17 points with him on the court.
Late in the first half, Scheierman notched a steal after a missed 3-pointer and fed a behind-the-back to Payton Pritchard for a layup. Later, he tracked down an offensive rebound and hit a three to help Boston pull away in the fourth quarter.
The Creighton product has impressed Mazzulla with his energy and toughness, not to mention his much-improved perimeter shooting. Scheierman should have ample opportunities down the stretch to make his case for a spot in the postseason rotation.
“The shooting is obviously important, but the other stuff is more important,” Mazzulla told reporters. “The offensive rebounds, deflections, steals, getting more comfortable with the schemes on both ends of the floor. He’s playing really well.”
Pritchard was Boston’s top non-Tatum scorer against Sacramento. He scored 22 points and hit five 3-pointers in the win.
Jaylen Brown, who missed the previous three games with a bone bruise in his knee, was quiet in his return to the lineup, tallying nine points, two assists and two rebounds in 26 minutes. The 2024 NBA Finals MVP has battled hip, shoulder and ankle injuries this season, as well, so the Celtics also will be looking to get him right physically before the playoffs tip in late April.
Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday both returned to the lineup against the Kings after sitting out Sunday’s win over the Trail Blazers. It was the first time the Celtics had their full preferred starting lineup active since Feb. 23. They went 11-3 in the interim and have won 10 of their last 11 games.
Originally Published: March 24, 2025 at 11:56 PM EDT
