Jayson Tatum did not suit up against the Orlando Magic on Monday night after being a late scratch just minutes before the opening tip. The Celtics added the All-Star forward to the team’s injury report just 12 minutes gametime, listing him as questionable due to a non-COVID illness.
Tatum did not emerge with his teammates during starting lineup intros according to reports, with Al Horford replacing him in the starting five. He was not seated with his teammates on the bench during the first quarter as the team officially listed him as out for the matchup.
Monday marks just the third game that Tatum has missed this year during the team’s 22-6 start. Boston has gone 2-0 in games without Tatum this year with a pair of wins over the Pistons. The Celtics did get a bit of injury good news before tip as well Monday night as Sam Hauser was cleared to play after a two-game absence due to back spasms.
The Magic are also extremely shorthanded for the matchup without their two best players in Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner for the past month due to torn right obliques. Elsewhere, former Celtics big man and Magic center Mo Wagner suffered a torn ACL in Orlando’s last game that will sideline him for the year. Gary Harris (hamstring strain) has also been ruled out.
