Jayson Tatum prepares for return to Madison Square Garden: ‘Just another match’

BOSTON — Nearly a year after suffering a torn right Achilles tendon at Madison Square Garden, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum is set to return there on Thursday as he and the Celtics face off against the New York Knicks.

A victory will officially secure the second seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs for Boston. However, Tatum mentioned that he is not particularly eager to check this latest milestone off his recovery journey, which has been impressive thus far.

“I mean, yeah, I’ve thought about it,” Tatum stated after scoring 23 points in a 113-102 win over the Charlotte Hornets. “I’m not exactly excited to go back and play there. The last time I played there was obviously a traumatic experience for me.”

“I knew at some point I would have to overcome that hurdle and play there again. So, it’s going to have to be this Thursday. But it’s not like I’m excited about it. It’s part of it. I chose to return and play, so I’m not skipping any games. I can’t participate in back-to-backs right now, but I decided to come back and play, so it’s just another game on the schedule.”

With Tuesday’s win, Boston has achieved a record of 13-2 with Tatum on the court since his return against the Dallas Mavericks a month ago. While his comeback has not been flawless — though no one anticipated it would be — he has consistently improved as he regains his conditioning.

After shooting below 50% from the field in each of his first 10 games post-return, Tuesday’s 8-for-15 performance marked the third time in five games he surpassed that threshold. Throughout this process, he has contributed in various aspects — from rebounding to playmaking to team defense — as he has throughout his career.

In doing so, he has aided the Celtics in distancing themselves from both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Knicks for the second position in the East, once again positioning Boston for a potential deep playoff run.

“Just ramping up at the right time,” Tatum remarked. “Understanding that the period after the All-Star break is crucial for teams genuinely aiming for a championship. You want to be feeling your best physically as a unit, playing well together, and clicking on all cylinders. This year is no exception. We’ve been performing exceptionally well heading into the playoffs thus far, and knowing we have a few games left to feel confident about ourselves and then determine our playoff opponent.”

Tuesday also marked a season-high in minutes for Tatum, who has gradually increased his playing time over the past few weeks as he prepares for what the Celtics hope will be an extended postseason journey.

This journey could potentially lead to a matchup against New York in the Eastern Conference semifinals — the pairing that would currently occur if the standings remain unchanged following Tuesday’s games. That was the series from last year, and it was in the fourth quarter of Game 4 that Tatum suffered the Achilles injury.

However, he indicated that while Thursday will evoke some unpleasant memories, it will not feel particularly different due to the location of the game.

“I was going to have to play there at some point,” he said. “So, I might as well get it out of the way.”