Jayson Tatum had 17 points before injuring his left knee in Boston’s 106-93 Game 6 loss in Philadelphia.
BOSTON — Celtics star Jayson Tatum was officially ruled out for Saturday night’s Game 7 against Philadelphia with left knee stiffness.
The team shared the update roughly 90 minutes before tip-off of the winner-take-all first-round matchup. The 76ers went on to win 109-100 and advance to face the Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
“He just came in today with knee discomfort. The medical team and myself decided for him not to play,” coach Joe Mazzulla said in his pregame session with reporters.
The Celtics started Ron Harper Jr. and Baylor Scheierman alongside Derrick White, Jaylen Brown and Luka Garza.
Tatum briefly exited during Game 6 in the third quarter for treatment on his calf. He is just 22 games into his return from a torn right Achilles tendon suffered in last season’s playoffs.
Following Game 6, Tatum described his leg as feeling “a little stiff.” He added that after a quick check and some time on the exercise bike, he did not return because the game was already decided and the starters had been pulled.