Jalen Brunson Makes Powerful Statement on Jayson Tatum's Injury
Jalen Brunson and his New York Knicks are one win away from returning to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since the 1999-2000 NBA season.
The Knicks took a 3-1 lead after winning Game 4 121-113. They are now headed back to TD Garden to try to close out the series in front of the Boston Celtics fans and advance one step closer to the NBA Finals.
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The Celtics will be without Jayson Tatum, whose 2024-25 season ended due to an Achilles injury. Boston is still a dangerous opponent, even without their biggest star on the court.
Even so, the consensus among fans is that the series is pretty much over. Then again, you should never rule out a champion, especially during the playoffs.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) argues with an official. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Brunson was one of the first players to show support for Tatum in the wake of his injury in Game 4 of the series. After the Achilles injury was confirmed and the player underwent surgery, many more reacted to the bad news.
Ahead of tonight's game, a clip shared by "Knicks Videos" on X shows the former Dallas Mavericks' guard reflecting on the impact Tatum has made on his team and all the things he's yet to achieve in the association.
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"I feel for him," Brunson said. "It's an unfortunate situation for a player like him. The league needs Jayson Tatum. What he's been able to do in his career has been remarkable. He still has a lot to do in his career, meaning he has a lot of time to make an impact and make a name for his legacy. What he's done is special."
Tatum's second-round series finished with the forward averaging 25.0 points, 11.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists in four games. The Celtics were upset in the first two games of the series, at home, and couldn't tie things up at Madison Square Garden.
Even if the Celtics pull off the 3-1 comeback, the competition will get considerably harder in the next rounds. They can still try to make a run given all the quality players they have on the roster, but being without their No. 1 option will be tough for the C's.
Related: Fans Get Emotional Over Jalen Brunson's Courtside Gesture Before Knicks-Celtics
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