Concerning Update Surfaces From Celtics Locker Room After Jayson Tatum Injury

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By J.R. DeGroote | Last updated May 13, 2025 1:15 AM ET

The Boston Celtics are staring down elimination, and the mood in the locker room said it all — quiet, stunned, and shaken after losing Jayson Tatum and falling behind 3-1 to the New York Knicks.

Boston held a double-digit lead at halftime, but the Knicks mounted a second-half rally in front of a raucous Madison Square Garden crowd, pulling out a 121-113 victory in Game 4.

The loss was tough, but it was Tatum’s injury that cast a longer shadow over the night. ESPN's Brian Windhorst noted just how much the moment weighed on the Celtics afterward.

"Our Tim Bontemps was in the Celtics locker room after the game and he said it was the quietest locker room he had ever heard," Windhorst said on ESPN. "They know that the rest of this series is in serious doubt."

Tatum went down in the fourth quarter after planting his foot awkwardly. He was in visible pain as trainers rushed to his side and was later taken to the locker room in a wheelchair. The Celtics have not released a diagnosis on Tatum, who will undergo an MRI on Tuesday.

While Windhorst acknowledged the Celtics played well without Tatum in the lineup during the regular season, he also emphasized the emotional hurdle ahead.

"I will point something out — they are obviously facing a difficult situation here. Tatum is injured and they are down 3-1. They were 8-2 without Jayson Tatum this season," Windhorst said. "This is an excellent team; they are the defending champions. But picking themselves up after seeing that will be a huge challenge."

Tatum was having a massive game before the injury. He scored 42 points on 16-of-28 shooting and added eight rebounds, four assists, four steals, and two blocks.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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