The Boston Celtics travel to Atlanta to play the Hawks in tonight’s major inner-conference tilt.
Boston has been riding high lately, winning three in a row against a trio of surging teams in the Oklahoma City Thunder, Hawks and Charlotte Hornets.
The Celtics beat OKC and Atlanta at home, they beat the Hornets on the road. Two of the last three victories have come without their NBA MVP candidate Jaylen Brown.
In Sunday’s win over Charlotte, Boston showed once again that no Brown, no problem.
Star forward Jayson Tatum more than picked up the slack, scoring a season-high 32 points and looking as sharp as ever.
The Celtics are set to play the second night of a back-to-back today, which is rough this late in the season, but they need to take care of business nonetheless.
The top of the Eastern Conference race won’t get any easier as the regular season finishes.
Boston Celtics announce news on Tatum ahead of tonight’s game
Less than 24 hours ago, Tatum rattled off his first 30-point game of the season.
This can’t be the same guy who tore his Achilles tendon just 11 months ago now, can it?
Oh, it sure can.
The 27-year-old Boston star looked like his old self — the guy who was a perennial All-NBA selection and MVP candidate. He almost single-handedly cooled off the streaking Hornets, who have been quite the story this season.
GettyCHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 01: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
Tatum, however, is still working his way back into full form. Of course, it would be asking way too much of him to be playing 30+ minutes every night and dropping 25 points. He is certainly capable, but he’ll need some time.
The Celtics understand their star is still a work in progress. For that reason, the team will rest Tatum tonight. He has been listed out with right Achilles repair injury management.
His absence is nothing to be concerned about; it is purely cautionary.
The C’s must keep accelerating as regular season finish line approaches
It’s that time of year again.
The top crop of teams in the NBA are looking to get the regular season over with and the playoffs to start. They are desperate to enter Game 1 of the tournament at full health.
Boston has some work to do in the health department before the first playoff game. The team will continue to get Tatum fully adjusted and its other star players to 100%. Brown and Derrick White have been dealing with more minor ailments recently. Nikola Vucevic remains out but is close to returning.
The Celtics are still unlikely to track down the East-leading Pistons for the No. 1 seed in the conference, but finishing second isn’t too shabby at all, especially when considering the expectations Boston had entering the year. Few considered it to be a top East team, let alone a contender, in September.
Tonight’s game against the Hawks will be the latest challenge of the many the final weeks of the season have thrown at the Celtics.
Atlanta is almost fully healthy and can be expected to come out with great energy and intensity.
Tip off in State Farm Arena is set for 7:30 p.m. Eastern.
Celtics Announce Major Jayson Tatum News Before Hawks Game