Why Jayson Tatum was removed from Celtics’ starting lineup vs. Magic

Why Jayson Tatum was removed from Celtics' starting lineup vs. Magic

A late-developing illness prevented Jayson Tatum from taking the floor Monday night in Orlando.

The Celtics added Tatum to their injury report minutes before their road matchup with the Magic, listing the superstar as questionable with a non-COVID illness.

Al Horford replaced Tatum in the starting lineup. Tatum was not on the bench for tipoff, but Boston had not officially ruled him out as the game began.

That finally happened at halftime, with the Celtics announcing Tatum would not return. Boston led 58-43 at the time after a stellar 19-point first half from Jaylen Brown.

Tatum was coming off one of the best performances by any NBA player this season: a 43-point, 16-rebound, 10-assist tour de force in a 123-98 win over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday. He had started all but two of the Celtics’ first 28 games and entered Monday as the team leader in points, rebounds, assists and steals per game.

Before Tatum’s last-minute downgrade, the Celtics were set to have their full roster available for just the second time this season. Rotation wing Sam Hauser returned to action after missing the previous two games with lower back spasms.

The Magic were shorthanded, playing without injured stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner and bench players Moritz Wagner and Gary Harris. Moritz Wagner, a candidate for NBA Sixth Man of the Year, tore his ACL on Saturday during a win over Miami.

Related Posts

“It was a high moment in his life” – Phil Jackson reveals Jerry Krause’s best moment with the Bulls

Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker

5 things that should be on this year’s Miami Heat Christmas wishlist

The Miami Heat are 14-13 through 27 games to begin the 2024-25 season. (Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports) Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday’s to all those…

New NBA rumors link Los Angeles Lakers to trades for pair of impact centers, including one having an All-Star caliber season

New NBA rumors point to a pair of high-impact centers that may be high on the Los Angeles Lakers trade wishlist. The first half of the Lakers…

Jayson Tatum and the defending champion, No. 2 in East Celtics host Tyrese Maxey (32 PTS, 10 REB, 8 AST last game) and the 76ers in an Eastern Conference Christmas Day showdown!

Paul George and the Philadelphia 76ers (10-17) clash with the Boston Celtics (22-7) at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts on Wednesday, December 25 at 5:00 PM ET….

Breaking: Surprising Los Angeles Lakers report claims team has moved on from trade they’ve been rumored to make for weeks

An interesting new report suggests the Los Angeles Lakers are no longer interested in making a trade for a player they have been linked to for weeks….

SPECIAL GIFT: Warriors-Lakers sets stage for another Steph Curry vs. LeBron James Christmas clash

The NBA’s marquee Christmas matchup is between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers. Or, as Stephen Curry framed it Monday, “Another game where two…