The Boston Celtics suffered a significant blow to their lineup during their ongoing visit to the Chase Center in San Francisco to take on the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday.
Celtics lost Jayson Tatum to the locker room due to a sprained ankle
While they’re currently in the lead with a scoreline of 110-105 (at the time of publishing the article), the Celtics lost their power forward Jayson Tatum during the game, who was seen limping back to the locker room in the first quarter.
Jayson Tatum limped to the locker room after suffering an apparent ankle injury.
Hope he’s okay 🙏
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 20, 2023
The nature of the injury was later revealed to be a sprained left ankle.
Prior to sustaining the injury in his ankle, Tatum had clocked in four points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals before he rolled his ankle and limped to the locker room, with his return being uncertain.
Tatum returned in the second quarter
However, amidst the speculations on the extent of the injury and whether Tatum would miss the rest of the game, Keith Smith of Spotrac.com first reported that the 25-year-old is expected to return to the game, as he was seen checking back to the Celtics bench.
Minutes later, Tatum was seen back in action on the court in the second quarter, without any significant hindrance in his performance from the ankle injury he had suffered during the same game.
Seems to be moving fine. https://t.co/eztXqLoNrh
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) December 20, 2023
Brandin Podziemski out with lower back injury
While the Celtics were able to get Tatum back in the game, things were not so smooth at the hosts’ end as Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski was ruled out of the game with a lower back strain.
In the second quarter, which marked Tatum’s return, Podziemski took a tumble while trying to box out Neemias Queta, and an official announcement from the Warriors soon followed regarding the injury.
Brandin Podziemski went to the locker room after getting shaken on up this play.
(via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/X43tH0a3na
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) December 20, 2023
There had been no official statement from the franchise regarding Tatum’s injury.
Celtics have a bad start to their road trip
Although the visitors led for the majority of the game, the Warriors did catch up to the Celtics at the end of the fourth quarter, with the scores leveled at 121. As the game progressed into overtime, the hosts finally sealed the deal, finishing with 132-126, handing the Celtics a defeat at the start of their road trip.
Final Score pic.twitter.com/FttYFVNDdc
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 20, 2023
The Boston Celtics, currently placed at the top of the Eastern Conference, have their next outing against the Sacramento Kings in California next Tuesday.
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