Jayson Tatum returned to the court for the first time in nearly 10 months, helping the Boston Celtics defeat the Dallas Mavericks 120-100 on Friday at TD Garden. The six-time All-Star played 27 minutes in short bursts, finishing with 15 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists.
“This was a really big step for me,” Tatum said of his comeback. “It’s just a long journey, and you know, it’s not just an easy decision to make. I still got a long way to go.”
The Celtics controlled the game through balanced scoring, with Jaylen Brown adding 24 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, and Derrick White contributing 20 points with four assists. Boston dominated the boards, out-rebounding Dallas 58-45, including 16 points and 15 rebounds from Neemias Queta.
Tatum described the emotions of returning: “I just felt really anxious. It’s been 42 and a half weeks since I played an NBA game. I felt like I was a step off at first, but the game started to slow down as I relaxed a little bit.” He reflected on the support he received: “A lot of people were praying for me and sending thoughtful text messages. I’m thankful for everybody through the last 10 months who checked on me.”
Despite missing his first six shots, Tatum found rhythm and confidence. “It helped me relax a lot. I really was just kind of grateful. I had a real sense of gratitude of just being back on the floor and playing basketball again.”
When asked about the future, Tatum confirmed a measured approach: “Yeah, we got a plan. Minutes will ramp up day by day. Plans can change, but we’re taking it step by step.”
Reflecting on the uncertainty surrounding his injury and the franchise last year, he said, “There was a range of emotions. I wasn’t sure what the future was going to hold. The team looks totally different, but the group and coaching staff have attacked this season, competed, and played together every single night.”
Tatum also highlighted the personal toll of his rehab: “Going through rehab and being injured is lonely. I couldn’t practice for a while. I just wanted to be around as much as possible. I’m very thankful to my teammates and coaches for helping me get to this moment.”
He credited his close friend and recovery partner, Nick, for his comeback. “He has the biggest role for the last 10 months. I haven’t went 48 hours without seeing him. He made sure we did everything right, held me accountable, and pushed me when I doubted myself. A big reason I was able to recover as fast as I did was because of him.”
Boston shot 47 percent from the field and produced 29 assists, maintaining offensive flow even with Tatum reintegrated. Payton Pritchard added 18 points and six assists off the bench as the Celtics stretched their lead in the second half.
Dallas struggled to generate consistent offense despite Klay Thompson’s 19 points and five three-pointers. Rookie Cooper Flagg led Dallas with 16 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, but the Mavericks fell to 21-42, marking their sixth straight loss.
Boston now holds the second seed in the Eastern Conference with 42-21, preparing for Sunday’s road game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, while Dallas faces the Toronto Raptors.
