Celtics Rumors: How Jayson Tatum Reacted To Achilles Injury

Everything changed for Jayson Tatum and the Celtics in the blink of an eye Monday night at Madison Square Garden.

Tatum, already with 42 points on the night, was looking to keep his brilliant performance going in the final minutes of Game 4 against the Knicks. But an errant pass to Jaylen Brown resulted in a far more severe outcome than just a crunch-time turnover, as Tatum went down with a non-contact injury and required a wheelchair to navigate through the tunnel.

In a column published Tuesday night, The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach provided a glimpse behind the scenes after Tatum, his colleagues and peers first realized the injury was very serious.

“According to a team source, he was said to be in a state of shock,” Himmeslbach wrote. “An emotional scene played out nearby. Team staffers wiped away tears as they embraced Tatum’s mother, Brandy. The mood in the locker room was desolate.”

Tatum and the Celtics chose to act fast, as the 27-year-old underwent surgery Tuesday to repair his ruptured Achilles. The complicated procedure was successful, which surely served as a source of optimism for the franchise at a time when positivity was scarce.

Boston, which probably was bound for a very active offseason even if Tatum stayed healthy, now might be on the verge of a borderline fire sale this summer. It surely will make moves with its franchise cornerstone in mind, but time will tell when Tatum can return to action.