The goal is for Jayson Tatum to be capable of absorbing close to a full workload when the playoffs begin in late April.
The goal is for Jayson Tatum to be capable of absorbing close to a full workload when the playoffs begin in late April.Michael Dwyer/Associated Press
Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, who has been sidelined since rupturing his Achilles tendon in a playoff game against the Knicks last May 12, has been officially cleared to play on Friday night against the Mavericks, according to the team.
A league source said Tatum will have a minutes restriction Friday, and likely for much of the rest of the regular season. The goal is for him to be capable of absorbing close to a full workload when the playoffs begin in late April.
Tatum missed Boston’s first 62 games of the season, but on Thursday he was upgraded to questionable for Friday’s game.
His Friday morning workout at the Auerbach Center was the final small hurdle. He was seen in the weight room when the session was briefly open to reporters and seemed to have completed his on-court session without issue. Tatum has insisted for months that his first game back would be at TD Garden.
The All-Star joins a Celtics team that is 41-21 and in second place in the Eastern Conference. After Friday’s game against the rebuilding Mavericks, the Celtics depart for their most challenging road trip of the season, with games against the Cavaliers, Spurs, and Thunder.
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach.