Magic Coach Sends Message on Major Accusation After Jayson Tatum Injury

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Garret Schnitker | Last updated Apr 24, 2025 4:10 PM ET

The Boston Celtics expanded their series lead to 2-0 in a 109-100 Game 2 win against the Orlando Magic in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Boston was without six-time All-Star Jayson Tatum, who injured his wrist after a foul by Magic guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in Game 1.

The Celtics were led in Game 2 by four-time All-Star Jaylen Brown, who contributed 36 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists on 63.2% shooting with five three-point field goals made.

The Tatum injury is vital to Boston’s quest to repeat as NBA champions, and some were led to believe the injury was not an incidental action by the Magic guard. One person in particular who accused Caldwell-Pope of intentionally hurting Tatum was Celtics veteran center Al Horford.

“It was about the second or third time that especially [Caldwell-Pope] went at [Tatum] that way,” Horford said Tuesday, via Jason Beede with Orlando Sentinel.

In an effort to refute the accusations, Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley doubled down, claiming that it shouldn’t have been more than just a common foul.

“I didn’t see the flagrant [foul],” said Mosley. “Two guys were going for the block and I think it was just the fall [that] was probably what set it off more than anything … It’s playoff basketball, and I don’t think that warranted what it was.”

#Magic coach Jamahl Mosley on Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s foul against the Celtics’ Jayson Tatum in Game 1: “I didn't see the Flagrant … the fall was probably what set it off more than anything."

Mosley said he didn’t speak to KCP about the play.

“It’s playoff basketball.” pic.twitter.com/epiTpJ4qPi
— Mason Williams (@mvsonwilliams) April 23, 2025

Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has claimed Tatum is day-to-day and questionable for game three on Friday night ( via Darren Hartwell with NBC Sports Boston). The Celtics have the opportunity to claim a 3-0 series lead after a game three win, a lead that no team in NBA history has lost a series with.

Should Boston win the series in four or five games, Tatum may have more days to recover before facing the winner of the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons, who are currently tied 1-1. However, if Tatum continues to sit and the Celtics lose game three, they will have a decision to make regarding his status.

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

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