Celtics beat Mavericks as Jayson Tatum returns from Achilles injury
Jayson Tatum recorded a double-double on his return from a torn Achilles as the Boston Celtics secured a commanding 120-100 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday.
The five-time All-Star contributed 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in his first NBA appearance in 298 days.
It marked a significant milestone for the 26-year-old forward, who had been sidelined since undergoing surgery to repair a ruptured tendon 10 months ago.
Despite acknowledging he still has a “long way to go” regarding his fitness, Tatum described the comeback as a positive move forward.
Overcoming early anxiety
The return did not begin smoothly for the Celtics talisman, who missed his first six attempts from the field.
Early nerves were evident when he missed a dunk in the second quarter after creating a clear path to the rim.
Tatum admitted feeling anxious and struggling to adjust to the speed of the game after nearly 43 weeks on the sidelines.
“It’s been a long time coming just to get to this point. Nights and days I dreamed about this moment and anticipation, the crowd.”
He noted that the pace of the game initially felt overwhelming.
“I just kind of felt like I was a step off or moving too fast. But the game started to slow down as I just kind of relaxed a little bit.”
Immediate impact on return
A put-back dunk late in the second quarter settled the forward, sparking a run where he converted six of his next 10 shots.
His presence proved decisive for Joe Mazzulla’s side, with the hosts outscoring Dallas by 20 points during his 27 minutes on the court.
Boston dominated the second half, outscoring the Mavericks 62-47 to seal a comfortable win at TD Garden.
Teammate Jaylen Brown praised Tatum’s willingness to return to action ahead of the typical 12-month rehabilitation window.
“I commend him being able to put himself on the line a little bit to come back and be a part of something bigger. I think that is his mentality.”
Managing the recovery process
Tatum expressed relief at simply being able to compete again after the lengthy layoff.
“I really was just kind of grateful. I had a real sense of gratitude of just being back on the floor, playing basketball.”
While the victory marked a successful step in his rehabilitation, the Celtics have not confirmed if the forward will feature in Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
This was his first competitive outing since Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals last season.