The Boston Celtics didn't need Jayson Tatum to defeat the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, picking up a 109-100 win over the Orlando Magic in Game 2. Even though the Celtics didn't need Tatum's help to take one step closer to another NBA Finals appearance, it goes without saying that head coach Joe Mazzulla would love to get his superstar playing again sooner rather than later.
Tatum has been sidelined since he took a hard fall after being fouled by Orlando Magic wing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in Game 1. The collision left the six-time NBA All-Star day-to-day with a wrist injury, leaving his Game 3 status up in the air.
Fortunately, it doesn't look like the C's will be without their 27-year-old stud for long, judging by the social media team's latest posting.
Latest Celtics Post Hints at Potential Jayson Tatum Game 3 Return
On Thursday afternoon, the Celtics made an Instagram post showing the team getting ready to fly to Orlando. Although nothing about Game 3 is guaranteed yet, the fact that Tatum was seen holding luggage with his injured right wrist suggests that he might be ready to return to action.
The photo, which can be seen below (h/t @CelticsUnite18), also shows that Tatum has also abandoned his medical wrist tape; another indication that he could be in the Game 3 lineup.
Tatum with no wrist tape 👀 pic.twitter.com/eFOv58t4hD
— CelticsUnite (@CelticsUnite18) April 24, 2025
As great as the Celtics performed without him, Tatum's potential return could be the final nail in the Magic's coffin. Even though the ex-Duke product's latest campaign wasn't his most dominant, he was still one of the NBA's best players as he averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and .452/.343/.814 shooting splits throughout another All-Star season.
Tatum's momentum came to a temporary halt thanks to Caldwell-Pope's boneheaded "play" (if you can call it that) in the series opener. Although the Celtics star finished the contest, his performance made it clear that he wasn't 100%, finishing with only 17 points on 36.4% shooting from the floor and a 12.5% success rate from deep.
With the series shifting to Orlando, the Celtics need a fully healthy Tatum to help close the series. The Magic allowed the fewest points with the second-best defensive efficiency at home during the 2024-25 regular season, and no one knows that better than the Celtics, who've lost four consecutive trips to Kia Center, averaging only 93.5 PPG on .418/.270/.765 shooting splits along the way.
For what it's worth, though, Tatum was absent for the last two road losses.
At the end of the day, oddsmakers are also seemingly confident in Tatum suiting up for Game 3. As of Thursday afternoon, FanDuel Sportsbook is listing the former All-Star MVP's projected point total at 24.5 in a game where the Celtics are the 5.5-point favorites over the Magic.
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Odds update periodically and are subject to change.