Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Photo by Rio Giancarlo/Getty Images
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics fell 102-92 to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night at TD Garden. It was an off night across the board. The offence stalled, the rebounding battle was lost, and the fourth quarter got away from them in a hurry.
Jayson Tatum finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, and two steals across 31 minutes. The numbers were decent. The frustration in the locker room afterwards was real.
After the game, Tatum opened up about where he is in his return from a torn Achilles and what he is still working through.
Tatum Reflects on Where He Is in His Recovery
Boston Celtics Jayson Tatum Injury Update Minutes Restriction
GettyJayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics.
Tatum suffered the Achilles injury in Game 4 of Boston’s second-round playoff defeat to the New York Knicks in May 2025. The initial outlook for his 2025-26 season was uncertain. He defied those expectations by returning to the floor on March 6 in Boston’s 120-100 win over the Dallas Mavericks, and has been building his way back into game shape since.
Sunday was his ninth game back. The process, he admitted, requires patience he does not always feel in the moment.
“I’m not Superman, so it’s obviously gonna take some time,” Tatum said. “I think the next day, I can give myself a little more grace over certain things, but in the moment, it’s frustrating.”
The honesty was striking. Tatum is one of the most competitive players in the league, and watching himself operate below his own standard clearly weighs on him. The awareness is there. The acceptance, he acknowledged, is still a work in progress.
Noa Dalzell 🏀
Asked Jayson Tatum if he feels like he’s giving himself grace throughout this stretch:
“It’s tough in the moment, right? You try not to think about it. You just want to be Jayson Tatum and feel like yourself again. I’m not Superman, so it’s obviously gonna take some time. I
What Tatum Brings Even While Finding His Feet
The Celtics sit second in the Eastern Conference at 47-24. They have held that position largely without their best player, which speaks to the depth Joe Mazzulla has built and the level Jaylen Brown has sustained throughout the season.
Tatum’s return raises the ceiling of what this team can be. Even in his current state, still working his way back to full sharpness, his presence changes how opponents defend Boston. The spacing, the threat of his mid-range game, the ability to create his own shot in clutch moments. None of that disappears just because the timing is still coming back.
Before the injury, Tatum had put together one of the best seasons of his career. He averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and a career-high 6.0 assists per game on 45.2/34.3/81.4 shooting splits in 2024-25. The player who produced those numbers will return. Sunday was a reminder that the timeline is his own.
What the Celtics Lost in the Offseason
Boston navigated a significant roster overhaul heading into this season. Kristaps Porzingis was traded to the Atlanta Hawks and Jrue Holiday was dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers. The losses were real, and the expectations around the team dropped accordingly.
They have exceeded those expectations at every turn. Brown has been exceptional. The rotation has held up. And now Tatum is back, still finding his rhythm but trending in the right direction.
The Oklahoma City Thunder come to TD Garden on Wednesday night. Another big test awaits.
Final Word for the Celtics
Tatum knows he is not Superman. He said so himself.
The Achilles recovery takes time and there are no shortcuts. Sunday was frustrating. Wednesday is another opportunity.
The Celtics are still second in the East. Tatum is still getting better. Both things matter heading into the final stretch of the regular season.