Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum suffered what is feared to be an Achilles injury in the final minutes of the Knicks 121-113 victory in Game 4 at Madison Square Garden.
Tatum went down on a non-contact play as he stepped back behind the 3-point line while being guarded by OG Anunoby. He lay on the floor in major distress as he was tended to by Celtics’ staff. He was helped off the court and then shown in a wheelchair in the tunnel.
“It’s a lower body injury, he’ll get an MRI tomorrow,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters. “We’ll see where it goes from there.”
“With that step back on the right and his reaction the fear would be an Achilles tear,” Dr. Evan Jeffries Tweeted.
Tatum had been killing the Knicks with 42 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists.
But the Knicks outscored the defending NBA champion Celtics 70-51 in the second half to take a 3-1 series lead.
The Knicks can reach their first Eastern Conference Finals since 2000 with a win in Game 5 Wednesday night in Boston. A potential Game 6 would be Friday back in New York.
Jalen Brunson went for 39 points and 12 assists, Mikal Bridges was brilliant in the fourth and finished with 23 points and 7 rebounds and Karl-Anthony Towns added 23 points and 11 rebounds after appearing to break his left hand in Game 3.
“I was just in a flow,” Brunson said on ESPN. “I wasn’t really trying to take over, just whatever we gotta do.”
If the Knicks close out the Celtics in this series, they could potentially have homecourt advantage in the Eastern Conference Finals if the Indiana Pacers take out the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Knicks moneyline is +170 on bet365 for Wednesday’s Game 5 against the Celtics. Our complete list of New Jersey sportsbook promos will help you find a sportsbook to use.
Indiana leads that series 3-1 with Game 5 set for Tuesday in Cleveland.
In NBA history, 96% of teams up 3-1 go on to win the series. Only 13 teams (4%) have come back from 1-3 down.
“Gotta focus,” Brunson said. “Focus. It’s a great place to play, great environment. We gotta focus, it’s a great team over there.”
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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter and Basketball Insider for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.com.