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Josh Hart Shares Strong Statement on Jayson Tatum After Injury
© Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

The NBA playoffs are always an intense time. The best athletes in the world go head-to-head in high-stakes matchups, battling for every possession on the court.

That intensity was on full display Monday night during the New York Knicks' 121-113 victory over the Boston Celtics. The win brought the Knicks within one game of the Eastern Conference Finals and put them in position to eliminate the defending NBA champion Celtics.

However, the excitement of the game was overshadowed by a concerning moment late in the fourth quarter. Celtics star Jayson Tatum went down with an apparent injury and was forced to leave the game.

After the game, Knicks guard Josh Hart addressed the situation with a heartfelt message about his opponent:

"Hate that it happened. The NBA is a brotherhood, praying for him."

The injury occurred with 2:58 remaining in the game. Tatum appeared to suffer a non-contact injury to his lower right leg. He was carried off the court and later seen in a wheelchair at Madison Square Garden. An MRI is scheduled for Tuesday to determine the extent of the injury.

Before the injury, Tatum was having an outstanding night . He scored 42 points in 40 minutes, shooting 16-for-28 from the field and 7-for-16 from three-point range. He also added eight rebounds and four assists. Tatum was one of four Celtics players to score in double figures, along with Derrick White (23), Jaylen Brown (20) and Payton Pritchard (12).

On the other side, Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 39 points and 12 assists in 40 minutes. He shot 14-for-25 from the field and was instrumental in the team's win.

The key stretch in the game came in the third quarter when the Knicks outscored the Celtics 37-23, shifting momentum in their favor.

Game 5 of the best-of-seven series is set for Wednesday in Boston. The Celtics now face a must-win scenario to keep their season alive and force a return to New York for Game 6.

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

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