The Boston Celtics will face the Phoenix Suns tomorrow at the Footprint Center. However, their star player Jayson Tatum isn’t completely healthy for the upcoming matchup. While the 5x All-Star nurses his injury, he will also have to nurse the wounds of the 8 March loss against the Denver Nuggets.

The Celtics’ loss to the Nuggets casts a shadow over their Championship dreams in what was a preview of a probable finals match of the 2024 season. However, Jayson Tatum will have to be back on his feet and compete to get better and get back at Denver’s Joker. With several critics questioning him, his poor performance and his injury are also damaging gis chances to become this year’s MVP.

Tatum’s MVP Hopes Take a Hit

Several basketball fans and critics considered Jayson Tatum as an MVP candidate. But after the match against the Nuggets, the consideration took a significant blow. Tatum could only score 15 points with 8 assists and 5 turnovers and also missed a game-winning 3-pointer which was below par compared to Nikola Jokić‘s 32 points triple-double including 12 rebounds and 11 assists. As for the injury report, his status for the Suns matchup isn’t a complete green flag either.

Tatum’s status is probable because of right knee impingement, joining teammates Jaylen Brown and rookie center Neemias Queta on the injury report. Tatum and Brown listed as probable will significantly impact the Celtics’ offensive firepower, especially when Brown chipped in against Denver with 41 points when Jayson Tatum failed to show up. While the absence of both players will take away a lot of depth from the game, their probable status shows that they can play for a significant part of the game.

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What will the Boston lineup look like if Jayson Tatum plays?

Celtics enter the game against Sun boasting the league’s best record. They are leading the Eastern Conference and have a record of 48-14. They have lost 3 games of their last 5 games. The Celtics lead the league in scoring 118.3 points per game and they have allowed 108.3 points per game. They have a well-balanced roster with Marcus Smart and Al Horford providing valuable support. This is how they could line up: Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Jayson Tatum, Robert Williams III, Al Horford, and Marcus Smart.

Suns currently rank 6th in the Western Conference having a record of 37-26. They have lost 2 out of their last 4 games. Suns have scored 115.9 points per game whereas they have only allowed 106.8 points per game. Devin Booker and Chris Paul continue to be a dynamic offensive duo. This is how they could line up: Bradley Beal, Kevin Durant, Grayson Allen, Jusuf Nurkic, Chris Paul.

Despite all this Celtics remain confident in Tatum. His overall growth this season is undeniable. He has been instrumental in guiding the team to the top of the Eastern Conference. The Celtics-Suns matchup promises to be a battle for top billing in the West and East conferences.

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