On Sunday, the Celtics opened the playoffs the same way they finished last year—with a win. But one moment during the blowout victory against the Magic raised massive concern among Boston fans. Jayson Tatum’s wrist injury. Yes, the star forward elevated for a dunk attempt, but was met at the rim by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Wendell Carter Jr. An awkward landing after the mid-air collision left JT hurt.

Fortunately, Jayson was able to continue playing. But his wrist was clearly bothering him. Despite logging in forty minutes, he finished with only 17 points on a highly inefficient 8 of 22 shooting. Thankfully, Derrick White was there to save the day as his 30-point performance made up for Tatum’s off night and led their team to victory. Now, the big question is–will JT be able to suit up for tomorrow’s Game 2?

Well, it seems highly unlikely because Tatum has been listed as doubtful on the injury report. As per veteran insider Shams Charania, “Jayson Tatum underwent an MRI on that right wrist over the last 24 hours and he has been diagnosed with a bone bruise in his shooting wrist… That injury clearly might be something that lingers for a little bit.” Yes, the forward has been diagnosed with a right distal radius bone bruise. So, he might need to sit out a few games to recover completely.

If Jayson does not play tomorrow, his next chance to suit up will be on Friday when the Celtics head to Orlando for Game 3. Although the doubtful status is concerning, Tatum’s postgame comments about the injury seemed pretty optimistic, “It’s all right. I just fell on it, landed on it.” He said the wrist was “throbbing for a second” and then “it kind of went away.” And with the X-ray coming back clean, Tatum could return after a game’s rest.

A bone bruise in the distal radius isn’t your everyday bump or strain—it’s essentially a microfracture within the bone that causes internal bleeding and swelling. Unlike a typical fracture, it doesn’t break through the bone entirely, which is why it can be tricky to detect without an MRI. X-rays won’t pick it up, but the pain and limitations it brings? Very real.

Most bone bruises heal within a span of a few weeks to three months, but that timeline can stretch significantly based on severity. In more serious cases, recovery can drag out over several months, sometimes even up to a year. That’s where Jayson Tatum’s situation becomes critical.

Though listed as “doubtful,” there’s no question the Celtics are weighing the long game here.

They’ve got championship aspirations, and putting their franchise cornerstone at further risk against a physically relentless Orlando squad would be a short-sighted move. The Magic are built to grind opponents down—they thrive on contact, length, and defensive pressure.

So even if Tatum feels like suiting up, Boston’s front office and medical team will need to play the long game. Rushing him back too soon, especially in a series that could easily turn into a physical war of attrition, could risk a re-aggravation that derails their playoff hopes altogether.

The message here is clear: patience might hurt in the short term, but it could be the difference between an early exit and a Finals run.

Even Joe Mazzulla shared some positive insight about the forward’s wrist.

Joe Mazzulla says Jayson Tatum is a “little better” after head coach’s unusual in-game reaction to injury

When Tatum injured his wrist on Sunday, the entire TD Garden looked concerned. After all, he is their best player, who averaged 26.8 points and six assists during the regular season. And the Cs cannot afford to lose him at such a crucial stage.

Mazzulla, however, had an unusual reaction. While the superstar was writhing in pain, the head coach seemingly told his trainer not to rush to his aid. Then, Joe was heard yelling “Get Up!” from the sidelines. Maybe, he was preparing his team for the playoff physicality they will likely face for the next two months.

Earlier today, Mazzulla also revealed that Tatum was able to participate in practice. “He was able to do some stuff. He was sore after the game. He’s gotten a little better today. He was able to do through some on-court work and go from there.” He remarked.

Based on the head coach’s update, it looks like Tatum will be good to go very soon. And who knows—he might even get upgraded from his doubtful status tomorrow and suit up to help his team gain a commanding 2-0 lead in the series. Thoughts?