In a thrilling development for Boston Celtics fans, the team has received a major boost ahead of their Friday evening matchup against the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden. Star forward Jayson Tatum has been fully cleared to make his long-awaited season debut, marking the end of a grueling recovery from a right Achilles injury sustained during the 2025 NBA playoffs.
Tatum, a future Hall of Famer, hasn’t suited up since May 12, 2025, when he went down in the fourth quarter of Game 4 against the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Second Round at Madison Square Garden. The injury sidelined him for the remainder of the postseason and the start of the 2025-26 campaign, leaving fans eagerly anticipating his return.
The Celtics’ official injury report for the game lists Tatum as questionable due to his right Achilles repair, but ESPN’s Shams Charania dropped the bombshell on SportsCenter: “Just in on @SportsCenter — Jayson Tatum has been fully cleared to make his Boston Celtics season debut.” This clearance comes as a game-changer for Boston, injecting star power back into a lineup that’s already performing at a high level.
The Boston Celtics confirmed the update, stating: “Injury Report for tomorrow vs. DAL: Jayson Tatum – Right Achilles Repair – QUESTIONABLE.” Meanwhile, second-year guard Baylor Scheierman is listed as available, adding depth to the roster.
Tatum, who has spent his entire nine-year NBA career with the Celtics after being drafted out of Duke, boasts impressive career averages of 23.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. He’s shot 45.9% from the field and 37.0% from beyond the arc across 585 contests. The versatile forward has led Boston to two NBA Finals appearances in his first seven seasons, solidifying his status as the franchise’s cornerstone.
Scheierman, in the midst of his second season with Boston, has been a reliable contributor off the bench. He’s averaging 4.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists while shooting 45.2% from the field and 37.3% from three in 57 games. Head coach Joe Mazzulla praised Scheierman’s recent growth in a February 2 post on X: “Joe Mazzulla says that Baylor Scheierman’s greatest contributions of late have been his improved rebounding, his defensive versatility, and his ‘ability to read the game in real time’ while at times serving as our third ball handler.”
Even without Tatum, the Celtics have dominated the league, holding the second seed in the Eastern Conference with a stellar 41-21 record through 62 games. This resilience speaks volumes about the team’s depth and coaching under Mazzulla.
Following the clash with the Mavericks, Boston heads to Ohio for a Sunday showdown against James Harden and the Cleveland Cavaliers. With Tatum potentially back in action, the Celtics could be on the verge of an even more dominant stretch as they chase another deep playoff run.