The stage is set for a pivotal Game 7 showdown between the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics at TD Garden.
With the season on the line, the Sixers caught a massive break, as Celtics star Jayson Tatum was ruled out with a knee injury.
Tatum left Game 6 after playing 29 minutes with knee tightness. He said after the game that he was “just a little stiff,” and was not initially worried about his status for Game 7. Despite his initial assessment, that pain has apparently lingered, keeping the six-time All-Star on the sideline for the do-or-die matchup.
Jayson Tatum Has Been a Sixers Killer in His Career
GettyJayson Tatum has lengthy playoff history against Sixers
For the Sixers, Tatum’s absence is a massive relief.
The Saint Louis-born superstar has averaged 25.9 points, nine rebounds and 4.6 assists in 22 playoff games against the Sixers.
He has faced them multiple times in the playoffs, winning every series. In 2023, the Celtics star lit the Sixers up, scoring 51 points in Game 7 to eliminate Philly in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
In the playoffs this year, he’s averaged 23.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 6.8 assists per contest while shooting 47.5% from the field, including 36.5% from 3.
Without him on the floor, the Sixers’ chances of winning drastically increase. Now, instead of accounting for the two-headed monster of Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the team can throw their best defenders at Brown all night.
Joe Mazulla Explains Decision to Sit Tatum
GettyJoe Mazulla ruled Jayson Tatum out for Game 7
After Tatum arrived at TD Garden in pain on Saturday, Celtics head coach made the gutsy call to rest the All-NBA forward.
Mazzulla told reporters pregame that the six-time All-Star forward came in Saturday with “knee discomfort.”
“Back-of-the-knee stiffness,” Mazzulla said, per Celtics reporter Noa Dalzell. “Day-to-day.”
Mazzulla reportedly said he and the medical staff decided for Tatum not to play.
“We made a decision for him,” Mazzulla said, according to Dalzell.
Sixers Aim to Make History in Game 7
Two of the best words in all of sports are Game 7.
With the series tied, the winner all comes down to the series finale.
Heading into the pivotal matchup Jaylen Brown explained what makes Game 7 situations so unique.
“Game 7 is a game amongst itself in a sense,” Brown said. “The rest of the series doesn’t matter. It’s going to [come down to] who’s going to show up on that day and be the better-performing team. There’s definitely some stuff that I see that I can improve. Definitely would shift my approach going into Game 7 and I’m looking forward to coming out with a great fight.”
For the Sixers, they look to complete the rare feat of overcoming a 3-1 deficit.
Tonight will be the ninth all-time Game 7 between the Celtics and 76ers, four more than any other matchup in NBA playoffs history.
Boston holds a 6-2 edge in the previous eight Game 7s between the Atlantic Division rivals, including the last two encounters in 2023 and 2013.
With Tatum ruled out, however, the Sixers look to score some revenge against their rivals in Boston.
Sixers Get Massive Break Ahead of Game 7