On Friday evening, the Boston Celtics will host the Atlanta Hawks at TD Garden, and the biggest news out of Boston is crystal clear: Jayson Tatum is good to go.
The Celtics have officially confirmed that their star forward is not listed on the injury report for the matchup. After a long recovery from a ruptured right Achilles tendon that sidelined him for most of the 2025-26 season, Tatum’s availability represents a major boost for a team already sitting in strong playoff position.
Just days ago, Tatum delivered a strong all-around performance in Boston’s 119-109 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. He finished with 19 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and one block in 35 minutes, shooting 5-of-12 from the field and 3-of-6 from three-point range. It was one of his most complete games since returning to the court, showing clear signs of rust being shaken off.
For Friday’s game against the Hawks, the Celtics will have Tatum available once again. However, the team is dealing with some other injury concerns. According to the latest report:
- Jaylen Brown (left calf tightness) — Questionable
- Derrick White (right knee contusion) — Questionable
- Neemias Queta (right thumb sprain) — Questionable
- Nikola Vučević (right ring finger fracture) — Out
Tatum has now appeared in nine games this season, averaging 19.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 39.1% from the field and 30.9% from beyond the arc. In Wednesday’s game against the Thunder, he was dominant at halftime with 12 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals (leading or tying both teams in each category).
This marks Tatum’s ninth NBA season—all with the Boston Celtics. Selected third overall in the 2017 NBA Draft out of Duke, he owns career averages of 23.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game across 594 contests, shooting 45.8% from the field and 36.9% from three. He has reached the Eastern Conference Finals five times and played a key role in the Celtics’ 2022 NBA Finals appearance and their 2024 championship run.
Currently, the Celtics hold the second seed in the Eastern Conference with a solid 48-24 record through 72 games. They have won seven of their last ten contests and boast a strong 25-11 mark at home. With Tatum continuing to build momentum and the team clicking in recent weeks, Friday’s home game against the Hawks offers another chance to solidify their standing as the playoffs approach.
The Celtics’ recent win over a powerhouse like Oklahoma City—with Tatum logging heavy minutes and contributing across the stat sheet—signals that Boston could be hitting its stride at the perfect time. While questions remain about the supporting cast’s health, Tatum’s confirmed availability is the headline that changes the outlook for this matchup and beyond.
Boston fans can breathe a little easier knowing their franchise cornerstone is locked in for the Hawks showdown. Expect Tatum to build on his recent form as the Celtics aim to keep rolling at TD Garden.