A little less than 10 months after tearing his Achilles in the playoffs, Jayson Tatum is set to return to the Celtics’ lineup on Friday night.
Boston’s All-NBA superstar was upgraded from “out” to “questionable” in Thursday’s injury report, putting Tatum in position to make his season debut against the Mavericks.
Tatum has been practicing in recent weeks and reportedly has been “full-go” in five-on-five scrimmages since the All-Star break.
“He looks good,” said Derrick White on Wednesday. “Playing. Moving. It’s been good to see him back and getting up and down, so you kind of see all the work he’s put in to get to this point, and it’s been great to see him be able to do what he loves to do.”
The Celtics have gone 41-21 this season in Tatum’s absence.
Friday also is a homecoming for Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg, who will have plenty of support from the Mainers in attendance at TD Garden. Flagg returned from an eight-game injury absence on Thursday in Orlando.
It’s also an NBA Finals rematch at TD Garden. Boston took down Dallas in five games to win the franchise’s 18th title in 2024.
Tip-off on Friday is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN. Here’s a preview.
**When:** Friday, 7 p.m.
**Where:** TD Garden, Boston
**TV, radio:** ESPN, NBCSB, WBZ-FM 98.5
**Line:** Boston -15.5. **O/U:** 224.5.
**MAVERICKS**
**Season record:** 21-41. **vs. spread:** 28-33, 1 push. **Over/under:** 27-34, 1 push
**Last 10 games:** 2-8. **vs. spread:** 5-5. **Over/under:** 4-6
**CELTICS**
**Season record:** 41-21. **vs. spread:** 36-26. **Over/under:** 22-40
**Last 10 games:** 7-3. **vs. spread:** 7-3. **Over/under:** 3-7
**TEAM STATISTICS**
**Points per game:** Dallas 113.5, Boston 114.5
**Points allowed per game:** Dallas 117.6, Boston 107.1
**Field goal percentage:** Dallas .470, Boston .465
**Opponent field goal percentage:** Dallas .469, Boston .441
**3-point percentage:** Dallas .341, Boston .364
**Opponent 3-point percentage:** Dallas .341, Boston .361
**Stat of the day:** The Mavericks have lost 15 of their last 17.
**Notes:** Tatum is still listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report, but he is expected to play barring any pregame setbacks ... Tatum last played 298 days ago in a Game 4 loss to the Knicks in the second round of the playoffs ... Despite Tatum’s absence, the Celtics enter Friday in second place in the Eastern Conference ... Flagg had 18 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots in a little less than 26 minutes of playing time during the Mavericks’ 115-114 loss at Orlando. “I thought for Coop, being out for over three weeks, I thought he looked good on both ends,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. “He made plays down the stretch. Had some big blocks during the game. I think he’s trying to find his legs. I thought he got his legs in the second half.” ... The Celtics saw their three-game winning streak end on Wednesday with the loss to the Hornets.
Amin Touri can be reached at [amin.touri@globe.com](mailto:amin.touri@globe.com).