The Boston Celtics have not confirmed when injured star Jayson Tatum will return. However, the NBA hinted at his potential comeback by moving the Celtics’ March 1 game to a prime time slot on NBC.
The original game featured the Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, but the matchup has lost interest with rookie Cooper Flagg sidelined due to injury. The Celtics playing against the Philadelphia 76ers is now a more exciting game, especially as Tatum continues his recovery from an Achilles injury.
Jayson Tatum is close to returning
Tatum suffered an Achilles tear in May during the Celtics’ playoff series against the New York Knicks. He had surgery shortly after and has been following a rigorous rehab plan, recently practicing with the team’s G-League affiliate.
Although the Celtics may have been cautious before, they currently sit second in the Eastern Conference with a 35-19 record and boast one of the league’s top offenses. Tatum’s recovery has gone smoothly, and the Celtics have also added Nikola Vucevic to strengthen their frontcourt during the trade deadline.
For Tatum to be ready for the playoffs, he would need to play in some regular-season games. March 1 could be a great option for his return.