Tatum listed as doubtful for big game against Bucks
Well, that certainly takes some buzz out of a big game.
The Celtics face the Bucks in Milwaukee on Tuesday night in an important Eastern Conference matchup, but they’ll likely be without their superstar. Jayson Tatum was listed as doubtful for the game due to a nonCOVID illness.
Tatum has been battling an illness since last week, when he was initially listed as questionable for Friday’s game against the Hornets but played through it to score 41 points in the victory. And he was fine for Sunday’s win over the Grizzlies, when he scored just 16 points on 3-for-16 shooting. A day later, he was back on the injury report.
Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said last Friday that Tatum was “really feeling it” on Thursday before he overcame it. Stevens added that Tatum would likely sit Wednesday’s game against the Pistons — the final game before the All-Star break — on the second night of the back-to-back as they manage his minutes but his status for that game seems to be unclear now given this news.
Tatum was one of six Celtics regulars on the injury report for Tuesday against the Bucks. Marcus Smart will miss his 11th consecutive game with a right ankle sprain, while Jaylen Brown will be out with the facial fracture he suffered last week. Robert Williams (left ankle soreness) and Grant Williams (right elbow swelling) are questionable while Malcolm Brogdon, who missed Sunday with right achilles soreness, was upgraded to probable.
The Celtics have been resilient when undermanned this season but without at least three regulars and potentially more, it will be a difficult task to overcome against Giannis Antetekounmpo and the second-place Bucks, who enter Tuesday’s matchup 1.5 games behind the C’s atop the East. The Bucks are on a 10-game winning streak.
Former Celtics forward Jae Crowder, who was acquired by the Bucks via trade last week, won’t make his debut with his new team until after the All-Star break, coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters in Milwaukee.
Pritchard: ‘I’m committed’
Tuesday’s slew of injuries is likely to provide more opportunity for Payton Pritchard. Though the third-year guard has been outspoken about his desire for a bigger role, the valuable depth he brings for situations the Celtics have found themselves in over the last week is a reason why they ultimately kept him as the trade deadline passed.
As the deadline passed without a deal, Pritchard has clarity about his situation and where he’ll be the rest of the season. And while he’s been disgruntled about his inconsistent playing time this season, he made clear Sunday that his focus is solely on the Celtics and taking advantage of every opportunity he gets to help them win, which he’s done all season despite unideal personal circumstances.
“I’ve been open about where I was at and I’m here now,” Pritchard said. “I’m a professional at the end of the day, I show up and I work and any minutes I get, I’m gonna play because I love to play basketball. This whole thing about what everybody’s been saying — I love this city, I love this organization, I love my teammates. This is one of the best.
“This is what the whole thing was about: Me wanting to play, because that’s what I love to do. That’s all it’s been about. But I’m here and I do love it here and I’m committed. I want to help this team any way I can to win a championship and put a banner in, whatever that takes.”