NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Jayson Tatum wanted to walk off the floor as a winner in his return to Madison Square Garden.
He didn’t, but at least this time he walked off the floor on his own, instead of being carried out with a severe injury.
So Tatum looked at the positives after the on Thursday night in his first game at the arena since in last season’s playoffs.
鈥淭oday was important for me, especially when I made the decision to come back and when I made the decision to play today,鈥� Tatum said. 鈥淚鈥檓 glad I did. I feel a lot better.鈥�
He said he was nervous and anxious earlier in the day and had to tell himself to relax after the game began. The star forward turned in a strong effort, finishing with 24 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, falling just short of his second triple-double since returning last month.
Tatum was hurt last May 12 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals when he fell to the court in the fourth quarter of a Knicks victory. New York went on to win the series, ending the Celtics鈥� championship reign.
He had surgery the following day in New York and returned to action March 6, playing in his 16th game of the season Thursday.
鈥淭here was definitely a sense of gratitude. Last time I was in here I couldn鈥檛 walk and now today was the first time it felt like it went by pretty quick,鈥� Tatum said. 鈥淏ecause obviously I remember the incident like it happened yesterday, so today was the first time where I was like, it went by kind of fast.鈥�
Tatum got a nice ovation when he was the last Boston starter announced, with more cheers than boos. He got the Celtics on the board with a steal and layup after the Knicks raced to a 7-0 start.
鈥淪ince I鈥檝e returned the reception that I鈥檝e gotten from players, coaches I鈥檝e never even spoken to, GMs, has been great,鈥� Tatum said. 鈥淎nd even today when they announced my name it was kind of loud in there and that means a lot obviously from wearing the Celtics uniform, just showing their respect and obviously because it happened in this building. So I did, I appreciated that.鈥�
Tatum averaged 21.6 points and 9.8 rebounds in his first 15 games. He said after the Celtics’ home victory over Charlotte on Tuesday that he wasn’t at Madison Square Garden.
as he went through his pregame warmups near the Celtics bench. Coach Joe Mazzulla said before the game he had a chance to talk to his star forward earlier in the day and praised the way he was preparing for the game.
鈥淚 think one of his greatest strengths is just his vulnerability and openness and his understanding. It鈥檚 an opportunity tonight and obviously another small checkmark in his journey, which he鈥檚 done a great job handling those, and expect him to be able to do the same tonight,鈥� Mazzulla said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 both, right? There鈥檚 a ton of emotions but also opportunity and I think he鈥檚 ready for that.鈥�
Many players around the league love playing at the historic arena, saying it’s their favorite road venue. Tatum could have avoided this trip and instead played Friday at home against New Orleans, because he is not playing in both games of back-to-back sets.
But he decided earlier this week that this was the game he needed to play in, especially with fellow star Jaylen Brown sitting out because of left Achilles tendinitis.
鈥淚 always enjoyed coming to play here, the environment, the atmosphere. I鈥檝e had some really big games,鈥� Tatum said. 鈥淥bviously like the lowest point of my life was here, but in a weird way it鈥檚 a part of my story.鈥�
___
AP NBA:
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
