{"id":522317,"date":"2026-03-14T02:12:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T02:12:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/522317\/"},"modified":"2026-03-14T02:12:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T02:12:13","slug":"jayson-tatum-injury-management-set-to-return-vs-wizards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/522317\/","title":{"rendered":"Jayson Tatum (injury management) set to return vs. Wizards"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBoston Celtics\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tTatum had missed Thursday\u2019s game against the Thunder, his first absence since making his season debut on March 6.<\/p>\n

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\n\tJayson Tatum and the Celtics are managing his right Achilles with a minutes restriction and his Thursday off-day. Matthew J. Lee\/Globe Staff\t<\/p>\n

Celtics star Jayson Tatum was left off Boston\u2019s injury report Friday ahead of the team\u2019s Saturday matchup with the lowly Washington Wizards.<\/p>\n

Injury Report for tomorrow vs. WAS:<\/p>\n

Baylor Scheierman \u2013 Right Ankle Sprain \u2013 PROBABLE
Nikola Vucevic \u2013 Right Ring Finger Fracture \u2013 OUT
Derrick White \u2013 Right Knee Contusion \u2013 PROBABLE<\/p>\n

\u2014 Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Tatum, who made his highly anticipated season debut last Friday coming off a right ruptured Achilles suffered 10 months ago, had sat out<\/a> of Thursday\u2019s tilt with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Celtics described his absence as \u201cinjury management\u201d after he played, and started, three straight games.<\/p>\n

The 28-year-old said he is playing on a minutes restriction as he eases back into competition. Tatum has played 27 minutes in each of his three starts.<\/p>\n

Head coach Joe Mazzulla said Thursday that the team\u2019s management plan for Tatum has the player\u2019s best interest in mind. Days off seem to be part of that predetermined plan.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust trust in our sport science team and trainers,\u201d Mazzulla said (via MassLive\u2019s Brian Robb<\/a>). \u201cThe goal was always for him to come back and also to maintain his health as he continues to stay healthy and continue to get better. Just the trust and communication from our team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tatum has not played since Tuesday against the San Antonio Spurs, when he scored a season-high 24 points. He also recorded two steals in Boston\u2019s nine-point loss.<\/p>\n

In Tatum\u2019s time on the court thus far, it\u2019s evident that he isn\u2019t 100 percent confident in pushing off of his right leg, something that should improve over time, especially with rest, like Thursday\u2019s day off.<\/p>\n

As for the rest of Boston\u2019s injury report, Baylor Scheierman (right ankle sprain) and Derrick White (right knee contusion) are probable to play. Scheierman suffered the injury against the Thunder while filling in for Tatum.<\/p>\n

White, alongside Tatum, did not play Thursday. White suffered the ailment Tuesday versus the Spurs and received attention from the training staff on the court in the second half.<\/p>\n

Nikola Vucevic (right ring finger fracture) remains out. He broke his finger during Tatum\u2019s return last week and underwent surgery the following day.<\/p>\n

The Celtics will host the Wizards at TD Garden Saturday with tipoff slated for 6 p.m. Eastern Time.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Profile\t<\/p>\n

\t\tKaley Brown<\/a>Sports producer\t<\/p>\n

Kaley Brown is a sports producer for Boston.com, where she covers the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox.<\/p>\n

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