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With the Celtics and Magic getting ready for Game 2 on Wednesday at TD Garden, the best player in the series could be out. Jayson Tatum is doubtful for Game 2 with a bone bruise in his right wrist, which could be the first time he misses a playoff game since being drafted by the Celtics.
Tatum hurt his wrist after a hard foul from the Magic’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the fourth quarter of Game 1. Al Horford was clearly unhappy after the play, calling out Caldwell-Pope saying he believed “there was something extra.” Ahead of Game 2, Caldwell-Pope said it was “just a foul,” adding that it’s the playoffs. For what it’s worth, the foul was upgraded to a flagrant-1 after review.
“I didn’t hear any comments,” Caldwell-Pope said, via CLNS Media. “Not worried about any comments. At the end of the day, this is how I play, this is how I’ve been playing in playoff basketball. A hard foul is a hard foul. I really do not care about what anybody says. I’m still going to play how I play, how I’m supposed to play for my team at the end of the day.”
It’s unclear how long Tatum will be affected by the bone bruise, but it’s still not great news for the Celtics as they eye another deep playoff run. Jaylen Brown is also dealing with a bone bruise in his right knee, though the All-Star looked alright throughout the Game 1 victory. Still, both injuries are something that could linger going forward.
The Celtics currently lead the Magic 1-0 in the series. But during the regular season, both their losses to the Magic came with Tatum unavailable. But the second loss came when the Celtics rested all their top-6 guys during one of the last games of the regular season. So how the C’s respond if Tatum is out will be an important factor.
If there is another hard foul from either way, though, things could get chippy as emotions are already heightened during the playoffs.
“For me, I’m going up to contest a shot,” Caldwell-Pope said. “At the end of the day, as a defender, I’m here to help stop the ball from going into the basket. Whether they thought it was a flagrant foul or a bad call or whatever it was, I just went up to block the ball at the end of the day.”
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Tatum hurt his wrist after a hard foul from the Magic’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the fourth quarter of Game 1. Al Horford was clearly unhappy after the play, calling out Caldwell-Pope saying he believed “there was something extra.” Ahead of Game 2, Caldwell-Pope said it was “just a foul,” adding that it’s the playoffs. For what it’s worth, the foul was upgraded to a flagrant-1 after review.
“I didn’t hear any comments,” Caldwell-Pope said, via CLNS Media. “Not worried about any comments. At the end of the day, this is how I play, this is how I’ve been playing in playoff basketball. A hard foul is a hard foul. I really do not care about what anybody says. I’m still going to play how I play, how I’m supposed to play for my team at the end of the day.”
It’s unclear how long Tatum will be affected by the bone bruise, but it’s still not great news for the Celtics as they eye another deep playoff run. Jaylen Brown is also dealing with a bone bruise in his right knee, though the All-Star looked alright throughout the Game 1 victory. Still, both injuries are something that could linger going forward.
The Celtics currently lead the Magic 1-0 in the series. But during the regular season, both their losses to the Magic came with Tatum unavailable. But the second loss came when the Celtics rested all their top-6 guys during one of the last games of the regular season. So how the C’s respond if Tatum is out will be an important factor.
If there is another hard foul from either way, though, things could get chippy as emotions are already heightened during the playoffs.
“For me, I’m going up to contest a shot,” Caldwell-Pope said. “At the end of the day, as a defender, I’m here to help stop the ball from going into the basket. Whether they thought it was a flagrant foul or a bad call or whatever it was, I just went up to block the ball at the end of the day.”
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- Jayson Tatum suffers bone bruise, status unlikely for Game 2 (report)
- Al Horford calls out Magic guard after controversial Jayson Tatum foul
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