Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) is helped off the court after an injury in the second half during Game 4 of the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Celtics reveal extent of Jayson Tatum's injury

By Steve DelVecchio | Last updated May 13, 2025 5:03 PM ET

The Boston Celtics blew another lead in their game against the New York Knicks on Monday night, but the bigger story was Jayson Tatum's injury late in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, it was as serious as it appeared.

The Celtics announced on Tuesday that Tatum has undergone surgery to repair a torn right Achilles tendon. The team expects Tatum to make a full recovery, though there is no timetable for his return.

Jayson Tatum today underwent successful surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon. No timetable is currently available for his return, but he is expected to make a full recovery. Further updates will be provided when appropriate. pic.twitter.com/TTXziFtMQB
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 13, 2025

A torn Achilles is one of the most difficult injuries to recover from in sports. Recovery can take anywhere from six to 12 months, which means there is a legitimate chance Tatum will not play at all during the 2025-26 season.

With Monday's comeback win, the Knicks took a 3-1 lead in their Western Conference semifinals series against Boston. Game 5 is in Boston on Wednesday night, and the Celtics must try to extend the series without their best player.

Tatum was having an outstanding night before his injury in Game 4. He had 42 points, eight rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocked shots before going down in excruciating pain on a non-contact play.

The Celtics are projected to have a massive luxury-tax bill next season, so they must make some difficult roster decisions this summer. Tatum's injury has now further complicated the situation in Boston.

Steve DelVecchio

Steve is a veteran writer who has covered a variety of sports and pop culture topics for more than 15 years. In addition to Yardbarker, his work has been featured on prominent digital publications including Larry Brown Sports, MSN and FOX Sports. The UConn graduate has published more than 40,000 stories and is one of the most experienced trending news writers in the country

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