The Boston Celtics lost much more than a basketball game against the New York Knicks on Monday night in Madison Square Garden.
The Celtics lost star forward Jayson Tatum in their 121-113 loss to New York in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Tatum sustained a non-contact injury to his lower right leg as he went for a loose ball late in the fourth quarter.
The former Chaminade College Prep star crumbled to the floor and grabbed his lower leg in pain with an apparent serious injury. After being helped off the playing floor, he was taken to the locker room in a wheelchair by the Celtics’ medical staff.
After the game, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said Tatum will undergo an MRI on Tuesday to determine the severity of his injury.
At the time of his injury, Tatum was enjoying a tremendous performance in which he had a game-high 42 points. He also had eight rebounds, four assists and four steals on the night. It was Tatum’s fifth 40-point night in the playoffs in his career, which tied him for the most in franchise history with former Celtic greats Larry Bird and John Havlicek.
With the victory, the Knicks take a three games to one lead in the best of seven series. They will have a chance to close out the series on Wednesday night in Boston.