Joe Mazzulla reveals Celtics ruled Jayson Tatum out for Game 7 for him

TL;DR

Jayson Tatum has been ruled out for Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers due to left knee stiffness. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla stated the decision was made by the team's medical staff shortly before the game.

Key points

Jayson Tatum ruled out for Game 7
Injury designated as left knee stiffness
Decision made by Celtics medical staff
Mazzulla emphasized it was in Tatum's best interest
Tatum's status is day-to-day

Mentioned in this story

Jayson TatumJoe Mazzulla

Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers

BOSTON — In a complete turn of events, Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum has been ruled out for Game 7 of the Green Team's first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers. The official injury report designates Tatum's injury as "left knee stiffness" and Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said it popped up earlier on Saturday, just several hours prior to Game 7 at TD Garden. Tatum was noticeably not on the court for a significant part of the second half during Game 6 on Thursday evening, which raised plenty of red flags. Following the double-digit loss, Tatum downplayed his injury and made it sound like he'd play in Game 7. Mazzulla even said during a conference call with the media on Friday afternoon that Tatum would play. However, that message was not maintained during Mazzulla's pregame presser on Saturday night.

Jan 19, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla with forward Jayson Tatum (0) look on from the sideline as they take on the Denver Nuggets at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports "(Tatum) came in today with knee discomfort and we decided...for him not to play," Mazzulla said. "We" is a key word, as it appears that the Celtics and their medical staff made the final call to rule out Tatum—not the six-time All-Star. "We thought that was in his best interest," Mazzulla later explained. The Celtics will now start a do-or-die Game 7 the same way they started the regular season, with a home game against the Sixers that Tatum won't participate in. They'll hope for a different result this time, though, and they'll need all hands on deck to extend their season without Tatum healthy. If Boston can pull out a win, it's worth noting that Mazzulla described Tatum's current status as "day-to-day." Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on: Blue Wire: iTunes: YouTube: *This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Joe Mazzulla says Celtics medical staff made final ruling to sideline Jayson Tatum for Game 7*

Q&A

Why was Jayson Tatum ruled out for Game 7?

Jayson Tatum was ruled out for Game 7 due to left knee stiffness, which developed just hours before the game.

What did Joe Mazzulla say about Tatum's injury?

Joe Mazzulla indicated that the decision to sideline Tatum was made by the Celtics' medical staff, emphasizing it was in Tatum's best interest.

What is Jayson Tatum's status after Game 7?

Jayson Tatum's current status is described as 'day-to-day' following the decision to rule him out for Game 7.