To the relief of Celtics Nation, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Boston superstar is in good condition and is fully prepared for tomorrow night’s win-or-go-home clash.

“It’s positive right now. Everyone in Boston is downplaying anything with Jayson Tatum… I’m told that Jayson Tatum told teammates after the game he’s fine, he’s good to go. So, I think the expectation in Boston is Game 7 Jayson Tatum is all good,” Charania said on Get Up.

Tatum clarifies the situation

Many in Boston were uneasy watching Tatum retreat to the locker room during the third quarter and later appearing on a stationary bike without returning to the floor. Following the loss, Tatum addressed the media to explain that the lopsided score played a role in his continued absence.

“You guys probably saw when I went to the back, saw me on the bike; my leg just was a little stiff when I came out in the third quarter,” Tatum told reporters. “But just kind of assessing the moment, the game was a little out of reach”.

Joe Mazzulla confirms Tatum’s availability

The sight of Tatum on the stationary bike sparked fears among fans, especially given his history with a previous Achilles rupture. However, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla was quick to shut down any speculation regarding a setback.

“He’ll play,” Mazzulla said bluntly when asked by the Boston Globe about Tatum’s status for the series finale. With the season on the line, the Celtics will have their best player on the floor as they look to avoid a historic upset at the hands of the 76ers.

After returning from an emergency appendectomy earlier in the series, he looked dominant in Philadelphia’s Game 5 win, finishing with 33 points and eight assists to help them avoid elimination and cut Boston’s lead to 3-2.

His health remains one of the biggest storylines of the postseason, but the former MVP showed few signs of slowing down in Game 5, controlling the paint and creating opportunities for Tyrese Maxey and Paul George.

How long was Joel Embiid out for?

Joel Embiid missed a little over two weeks after undergoing an emergency appendectomy earlier this month. He returned just 17 days after surgery, an unusually quick comeback for a player dealing with an appendectomy.

The 76ers superstar was sidelined after experiencing severe abdominal pain during the final stretch of the regular season, forcing him to undergo surgery and miss the beginning of the playoff series against the Boston Celtics.

He returned in Game 4 despite still recovering physically, immediately giving Philadelphia a major boost. In his first game back, he posted 26 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, although the Sixers still fell to Boston.

Two days later, he looked much closer to his dominant self in Game 5, finishing with 33 points and eight assists to help the team extend the series. They have continued listing him on the injury report while monitoring his conditioning.

How has Joel Embiid performed this season?

Joel Embiid has once again performed at an All-NBA level during the 2025-26 season. The center averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game while shooting nearly 49% from the field during the regular season.

His ability to dominate in the post, draw fouls and create scoring chances for teammates continued to make him one of the most difficult matchups in the NBA. The Sixers relied heavily on his inside presence throughout the year.

He has also shown his importance during the Celtics series. Philadelphia struggled offensively while he was sidelined, but his return changed the tone. In Game 5, he controlled the tempo offensively and helped the Sixers outscore Boston decisively in the fourth quarter to avoid elimination.

Philadelphia 76ers’ next games

The Philadelphia 76ers will face the Boston Celtics in Game 6 on Thursday at 8 PM ET with their season on the line. Boston currently leads the first-round series 3-2 after Philadelphia’s Game 5 victory at TD Garden.

If the Sixers win Game 6 at home, the series will move back to Boston for a decisive Game 7 this weekend. If the Celtics win, Philadelphia’s season will come to an end in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

The upcoming schedule for Philadelphia is:

• Game 6 vs. Boston Celtics — Thursday, April 30
• Potential Game 7 at Boston Celtics — Saturday, May 2 (if necessary)

“I have to apologize to the Philadelphia 76ers for thinking the series was over after Game 4,” Johnson posted on X. “The 76ers beat the Celtics and were led by the dominant inside play of Joel Embiid, he had 33 points and 8 assists!”

Along with his apology, Johnson was quick to credit the resilience shown by Nick Nurse’s squad against the Celtics on Tuesday night. With the season on the line, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George provided the elite supporting cast Embiid needed to keep the Sixers’ hopes alive.

Now, the focus shifts back to Broad Street. Maxey sent a clear message to the Philly faithful: they aren’t just looking to compete in Game 6, they’re looking to win. A victory at home would push this series to a do-or-die Game 7 with a trip to the Eastern Conference Semifinals on the line.

Nurse’s game plan draws High praise

While Embiid provided the firepower, Johnson was quick to credit head coach Nick Nurse for outmaneuvering the Celtics‘ coaching staff. Facing a hostile Boston crowd and a championship-caliber roster, Nurse’s defensive adjustments kept the Celtics off-balance all night.

“My hat goes off to 76ers Coach Nick Nurse, who had an awesome game plan and had his team believing that they could beat the Celtics on the road in Boston!” Johnson added.

Embiid focused on the mission

For a franchise that has been haunted by second-round exits in recent years, this victory feels like a potential turning point. However, despite the momentum shift and the high-profile apologies, Embiid remains locked in.

“I want to do anything I can to win a basketball game,” Embiid said. “I just want to enjoy this moment, being a part of this basketball team that’s trying to accomplish something. I just want to play basketball.“

The series now shifts back to South Philly for Game 6. For the Sixers, the goal is simple: close it out at home and punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

After the game, in which Maxey played a key role, he made it clear in the press conference that he did not want to let their fans down. “Our fans deserve a win at home. After that performance that we put on last time in front of our fans that was a disgrace and it was unacceptable.”

Joel Embiid played his heart out despite injuries, and Tyrese Maxey stepped up to keep their season alive. By the end of Game 5, the 76ers had won with an impressive 113-97 score and earned another chance to extend the series at home.

The big game from the 76ers

Tyrese Maxey was the key piece the 76ers needed on the perimeter. Head coach Nick Nurse played him for 43 minutes, and the strategy paid off. Maxey scored 25 points with 55.56% shooting from the field and 30% from three.

He also recorded five assists, maintaining the offensive rhythm for the 76ers. On defense, the guard also challenged the Celtics with 10 rebounds, two steals, and one block. Maxey was the first 76ers guard with a 25-point, 10-rebound, and five-assist game in the NBA Playoffs since Hersey Hawkins, per StatMuse.

Embiid outstanding performance

Joel Embiid, on the other hand, looked like the answer to the 76ers’ problems in the NBA Playoffs. The former NBA MVP played 39 minutes despite going to the locker room after suffering a leg injury.

This did not stop Embiid from making life difficult for the Celtics. He scored 33 points on 52.17% shooting from the field and made nine of his 10 free throw attempts. Embiid also added eight assists to keep the offense flowing.

This marked the eighth time Embiid scored 30 points against the Celtics in the NBA Playoffs since he was drafted. He only trailed Wilt Chamberlain as the 76ers player with the most 30-point games against a single postseason opponent.

He returned in Game 4 after recovering from an appendectomy and immediately re-entered a heavy-minute role, but the team approaches Game 5 with cautious optimism as the injury report remains the final checkpoint before tip-off.

If the star center is cleared to play, Philadelphia regains its focal point on both ends of the floor—but even then, the challenge remains steep. Boston’s depth and execution have forced the Sixers into late-game desperation.

When was Joel Embiid ruled out?

Joel Embiid was ruled out after undergoing an emergency appendectomy on April 9, 2026, which sidelined him for the early games of the Philadelphia 76ers’ playoff series against the Boston Celtics.

The 76ers confirmed that he required surgery during the team’s road trip, forcing him to miss multiple postseason games as he recovered. According to game-day reports, he was initially listed as out for Games 1 and 2, with his status remaining uncertain through most of the first-round matchup.

His return timeline was gradual, moving from “doubtful” to “questionable” before he was surprisingly upgraded ahead of Game 4. That marked his first appearance back on the floor just 17 days after surgery.

How has Joel Embiid performed in the 2026 season?

Joel Embiid has remained one of the NBA’s most productive centers, averaging 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. His scoring efficiency also remained strong, shooting nearly 49% from the field during the regular season.

His impact was immediately noticeable when he returned for Game 4 against the Boston Celtics. Even after missing playoff action, he posted 26 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists in 34 minutes during Philadelphia’s loss.

The biggest concern surrounding him this season has not been production, but durability. Philadelphia has consistently managed his workload throughout the year, including strict minute restrictions early in the campaign and periodic absences tied to knee and abdominal issues.

Why do the 76ers have to beat the Celtics no matter what?

The Philadelphia 76ers must beat the Boston Celtics in Game 5 because another loss would eliminate them from the NBA Playoffs. The series currently stands at 3-1 in favor of the Joe Mazzulla‘s team after they 128-96 victory in Game 4.

Boston has controlled the matchup through elite perimeter shooting, rebounding dominance, and roster depth. In Game 4 alone, the Celtics hit a franchise playoff-record 24 three-pointers and outrebounded Philadelphia 51-30.

For Philadelphia, the situation is simple: win and force a Game 6 back home, or lose and see the season end immediately. The pressure surrounding Game 5 is intensified by uncertainty around Embiid’s health and growing questions about the long-term direction of the franchise if another early playoff exit becomes official.

The status of star center Joel Embiid continues to be a major storyline in the series between Philadelphia and Boston. For what it is worth, Embiid was originally listed as doubtful (now available) due to post-appendectomy recovery, which has kept him out since April 9 for Game 3, before ultimately being ruled out of the NBA game.

The good news, Kelly Oubre is now listed as available on the Philadelphia injury report for the fourth game. As Embiid has been upgraded as available before the tip-off.

The uncomfortable position of the 76ers

After dropping Game 3 at home to the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers look to bounce back in Game 4 on Sunday night. With a win, the Sixers would tie the series at two games apiece, but with a loss, they would fall behind 3-1, which is a difficult position to recover from.

However, they have already stolen a game at TD Garden, so they cannot be counted out. They have exceeded expectations so far for this team, and, without a doubt, beyond young players like Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, the veterans can decide games, like Joel Embiid or Paul George.

In Friday’s loss to the Celtics, Tyrese Maxey led the way for the 76ers as he recorded 31 points, four rebounds, and six assists while Paul George added 18 points and five assists of his own.

How the Celtics arrive

On the other side, Boston enters Sunday’s contest with a 2-1 series lead after defeating the 76ers on the road in Game 3 on Friday night. Jayson Tatum led the way for the Celtics in Friday’s victory as he finished with 25 points, five rebounds, and seven assists, while Jaylen Brown recorded 25 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.

The latest league injury update shows Boston dealing with multiple game-time decisions, with Brown managing Achilles tendinitis and White dealing with a knee issue, leaving their availability up in the air right before tip-off.

With playoff positioning still on the line, their final lineup decisions will be closely monitored. The Knicks, meanwhile, are preparing for multiple scenarios depending on whether Boston’s key backcourt pieces are cleared to play.

How and when did Jaylen Brown get injured?

Jaylen Brown did not suffer a single specific in-game injury; instead, his current issue — left Achilles tendinitis — developed gradually during the 2025–26 NBA season due to workload and overuse.

The Boston Celtics star has been managing discomfort in his left Achilles for several weeks, with the condition flaring up during stretches of heavy minutes and back-to-back games.

According to official NBA injury reports and team updates, the issue became more noticeable in the final stretch of the regular season, forcing Boston to list him as questionable in multiple matchups.

Rather than a contact injury, this is classified as an overuse condition, meaning it worsens over time with repetitive strain. The Celtics have occasionally limited his minutes or monitored him in pregame warmups to prevent further aggravation.

How has Jaylen Brown been this season?

Jaylen Brown has delivered another All-NBA-level season, averaging roughly 25 points, 6 rebounds and around 5 assists per game. He continues to be one of Boston’s primary scoring engines, regularly creating offense in isolation and transition while sharing lead responsibilities with Jayson Tatum.

His efficiency has remained strong, shooting close to 49% from the field and around 37% from three-point range, depending on the stretch of the season. Despite managing his injury late in the year, he has remained one of the Celtics’ most productive and impactful players in their push toward the playoffs.

How and when did Derrick White get injured?

Derrick White’s current injury stems from a right knee contusion, which is a contact-based bruise typically suffered during in-game collisions in the 2025–26 season.

The guard picked up the issue after taking contact to the knee during recent gameplay, with the injury being officially listed on the NBA injury report shortly afterward. A contusion like this does not involve structural damage, but it can cause swelling and discomfort depending on impact severity.

Since then, he has been considered day-to-day, with the Celtics evaluating his status on a game-by-game basis. His inclusion on the questionable list for recent games reflects precaution rather than a long-term concern.

How has Derrick White been this season?

Derrick White has been one of the most consistent two-way guards this season, averaging around 17 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists per game. His role as a secondary playmaker has been essential in stabilizing the offense when primary scorers are pressured.

White has also been a strong perimeter shooter, connecting on nearly 39% of his three-point attempts while maintaining high efficiency in the Boston Celtics’ ball movement system.

Defensively, he remains one of the most reliable perimeter stoppers, frequently assigned to opposing guards and closing out games due to his versatility and decision-making.

“I can tell he’s still out of shape,” Adebayo told reporters, reflecting on their relationship that dates back to when they were 12 years old. “You see what he’s gone through, and obviously [I was] checking up on him through the rehab phase.”

Tatum is currently navigating the difficult road back from a torn Achilles. While his recovery timeline allowed him to rejoin Boston for the regular-season stretch run, the explosive form that defined his pre-injury dominance hasn’t quite fully returned.

While Tatum‘s raw numbers remain respectable, his efficiency has dipped compared to past seasons. With the postseason looming, the Boston faithful are banking on their franchise cornerstone to rediscover his All-NBA rhythm before the chips are down.

Adebayo focused on Heat’s postseason push

While checking in on a friend is part of the brotherhood, Adebayo remains locked in on Miami’s seeding. The Heat are currently jostling for position in a crowded Eastern Conference, and the captain is keeping the locker room’s focus narrow.

“See if we can win all five, and then figure out whatever happens after that,” Adebayo said of the Heat’s remaining schedule. “Take it one game at a time, and whatever happens, happens at this point.”

Tatum’s comeback campaign

Since returning to the Celtics‘ lineup, Tatum has shown flashes of brilliance mixed with expected rust. Through 12 games, while averaging 31 minutes per night, here is how the star forward has performed:

• Points: 21.3 PPG
• Rebounds: 9.8 RPG
• Assists: 4.8 APG
• Steals: 1.2 SPG
• Shooting Splits: 40.2% FG | 32.1% 3PT | 82.7% FT

[Watch Boston Celtics vs Golden State Warriors online in the US on Fubo]

A high-stakes showdown is on deck as the Boston Celtics continue their push for the top seed in the Eastern Conference, entering the matchup at 45-23 after back-to-back wins and sitting just three games behind the Detroit Pistons. Boston look to extend their streak against the Golden State Warriors.

The San Francisco side comes in at 33-35 following a gritty win over the Washington Wizards, aim to build momentum, sharpen their production, and climb the Western Conference standings in what promises to be a must-watch clash.

When will the Boston Celtics vs Golden State Warriors match be played?

Boston Celtics play against Golden State Warriors this Wednesday, March 18, in a 2025/2026 NBA regular season game. The game will start at 7:00 PM (ET).

Boston Celtics vs Golden State Warriors: Time by State in the USA

ET: 7:00 PM
CT: 6:00 PM
MT: 5:00 PM
PT: 4:00 PM

How to watch Boston Celtics vs Golden State Warriors in the USA

Catch this 2025/2026 NBA regular season matchup between Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors in the USA on Fubo. Other options: ESPN.

Holmgren is expected to return for Oklahoma City after recently missing time due to illness, and reports indicate he is no longer listed on the injury report for the game. Meanwhile, Boston’s situation is less certain.

Tatum has been managing his return following a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in 2025 and has occasionally been listed on injury reports as the Celtics carefully monitor his workload.

What happened to Chet Holmgren?

Chet Holmgren recently missed games due to an illness, specifically flu-like symptoms. The Oklahoma City Thunder listed him as questionable on injury reports before he sat out multiple games while recovering.

The illness forced him to miss a short stretch of games during March, although it was not considered a long-term health issue. The Thunder medical staff chose to keep him out temporarily while he recovered.

Encouragingly for Oklahoma City, recent updates indicate that he is no longer listed on the injury report and is expected to return to action soon. His return should restore one of the Thunder’s most important defensive anchors.

What injury does Jayson Tatum have?

Jayson Tatum is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon suffered during the 2025 NBA playoffs. The Boston Celtics star has been working his way back after undergoing surgery and spending several months in rehabilitation.

The injury occurred during the 2025 postseason and forced him to miss a big portion of the 2025-26 NBA season while completing his recovery process. Achilles injuries are among the most serious setbacks for basketball players.

In recent weeks, however, the Celtics forward has made progress in his recovery and has already returned to game action after nearly ten months of rehabilitation. Still, Boston has continued to manage his workload carefully.

He has occasionally appeared on injury reports as the team monitors his conditioning and recovery following the surgery. Because of that cautious approach, he may still be listed as questionable or day-to-day.

When could Tatum return to play?

Jayson Tatum has already returned to the Boston Celtics lineup after recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, making his comeback after roughly 10 months of rehabilitation. However, he will not play tonight.

Medical timelines for this type of injury generally range between nine and twelve months before players can safely return to NBA competition, depending on how their recovery progresses and how quickly they regain strength and mobility.

He made his long-awaited comeback in early March 2026, returning to the court after a lengthy absence and gradually being reintegrated into the rotation. Since his return, Boston has carefully monitored his minutes and overall workload.

The injury occurred in May 2025 during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks, and he underwent surgery shortly afterward.

Now three games into his comeback, the All-NBA forward is already proving his generational talent remains fully intact. Despite a tough road loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night, Tatum remained focused on the long-term plan when addressing his current workload and the team’s strategy for the stretch run.

“I could play more, but I understand the bigger picture,” Tatum told reporters while discussing his restricted minutes. “In the moment, I’m not thinking about my Achilles; I’m trying to compete and be out there, but this is part of the plan and I have to stick with it.“

The cautious approach is a calculated one, as Tatum works to overcome one of the most historically difficult injuries in professional sports. After a ten-month rehabilitation process, he is determined to be at full strength for the playoffs, especially after his absence proved fatal in last year’s second-round exit against the New York Knicks.

Why Tatum’s minutes are the story?

The media’s focus on Tatum’s playing time isn’t without cause, given his immediate impact upon returning to the rotation. In just 27 minutes of action against San Antonio, he dropped an efficient 24 points to go along with five rebounds and two steals, providing a vivid reminder of the elite production he maintained prior to surgery.

While his box score numbers are eye-popping, Tatum remains deeply conscious of his physical limits and the necessity of being healthy for a championship push. By prioritizing a “ramp-up” phase now, he is positioning himself to deliver peak performance when the stakes are highest in late May and June.

With the superstar duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum reunited, the Celtics are entering a new phase of their regular-season campaign. Currently sitting at an impressive 43-22, Boston is once again a legitimate threat to secure another banner and cement their status as the team to beat in the East.