Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives against San Antonio Spurs guard De'aaron Fox (4). Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images

Jayson Tatum’s injury status is concern for Celtics ahead of showdown with Thunder

By Yagya Bhargava | Last updated Mar 11, 2026 7:50 PM ET

Thursday night brings one of the season's most anticipated matchups, with the Boston Celtics visiting the Oklahoma City Thunder. Oklahoma City has been rolling through the Western Conference behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the regular season winds down.

Boston has mostly stayed the course, and Jaylen Brown has been playing at an MVP level over the past few weeks. But heading into this one, there is some uncertainty around who suits up.

Celtics could be missing key players vs. Thunder

According to the injury report released Wednesday, Payton Pritchard is listed as probable with a neck spasm. Jayson Tatum is questionable while dealing with right Achilles repair reconditioning.

Nikola Vucevic is out with a right ring finger fracture. Derrick White is also questionable with a right knee contusion.

If Tatum and White cannot play, Boston could have a tough time against the defending NBA champions.

Injury Report for tomorrow at OKC:

Payton Pritchard - Neck Spasm - PROBABLE
Jayson Tatum - Right Achilles Repair Reconditioning - QUESTIONABLE
Nikola Vucevic - Right Ring Finger Fracture - OUT
Derrick White - Right Knee Contusion - QUESTIONABLE
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 11, 2026

Celtics see Tatum, White's importance vs. Spurs

Tatum's return from the Achilles injury has not quite looked like his usual MVP form, but his impact is still there. The star forward is averaging 19.7 points and 6.7 rebounds since getting back on the floor, which is solid production given the circumstances.

Tuesday gave another look at that influence. After Brown got ejected late in the second quarter, Boston needed someone to steady the offense. Tatum answered with 24 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 27 minutes, though the Celtics fell 125-116.

White also had a big night. Despite picking up a right knee contusion during the loss to the San Antonio Spurs, White played through it and carried Boston offensively.

He put up a team-high 34 points on 11-of-22 shooting, adding seven assists, five rebounds, and a block.

Yagya Bhargava

Yagya Bhargava began his professional journey as a chef, but his passion for sports eventually led him into sports journalism. He started writing in 2022 and has since published more than 5,000 articles covering the NFL and NBA. Along the way, he’s worked with outlets like The Cold Wire, Sportskeeda, The SportsRush, and The Big Lead

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