Patrick Beverley Sees Positives In Jayson Tatum Devastating Injury Helping Celtics Beat Knicks

Boston Celtics took to Game 5 against the New York Knicks without leading superstar Jayson Tatum in the lineup.

Patrick Beverley Sees Positives In Jayson Tatum Devastating Injury Helping Celtics Beat Knicks

Patrick Beverley believes Celtics were better without Jayson Tatum (Image via FirstSportz)

The New York Knicks’ Game 4 win over the Boston Celtics was overshadowed by an Achilles injury to Jayson Tatum. The Olympic gold medalist was in tears heading back to the medical room and now will be forced to watch Game 5 from a hospital bed.

He was quickly sent for surgery, and doctors successfully completed it. Then, he watched as his teammates took to TD Garden, buoyed by their home crowd. The fans wanted the team to do it for Tatum, and the Celtics went about their business from the first whistle.

Up until half-time, both teams were inseparable. But coming out of the second half, the home team looked to have some gasoline poured over their already igniting flame. They blitzed the Knicks in that quarter, 32-17, to take the lead.

Scoring and playmaking from Jaylen Brown, with a dose of hustle into it. Luke Kornet playing his heart out from the bench, Derrick White exploding for 34 points, all combined to down the New York Knicks 127-102. To sum this game up was former NBA star Patrick Beverley, who wrote this on X.

With Tatum out that (ball) is moving.

Patrick Beverley wrote

He saw that the ball was moving around a lot more than it does when Jayson Tatum is on the court. When a fan questioned his logic, he doubled down by suggesting that their leading superstar does slow the ball down whenever he tries to attack one-on-one. Considering how such situations have panned out in this very series, he might have a point there.

Jayson Tatum-less Celtics could force Game 7

Boston Celtics fans must be thrilled watching their team play the way it did tonight. But it begs the question of whether they can go all the way without their leading superstar on the court. Usually, whenever that happens, a team tends to struggle.

But the Celtics are as deep as a defending champion can get. That depth also covered for Kristaps Porzingis, who left the game after playing just twelve minutes. Luke Kornet gave the Celtics the defensive presence they needed inside, and that, along with the ball movement and scoring, helped them force Game 6.

If they can use this same tactic or an improved version of it on May 16th, the reigning champions could cause an unprecedented upset. Only 5% of teams have come back from being down 3-1 in the playoffs. That means there is still hope they can win this series.

This game might have given them an option to tackle the New York Knicks. Without Jayson Tatum hogging the ball, the Celtics are spreading the floor, which is forcing the Knicks to scramble. This new scheme could eventually force a Game 7.

‘Bloodied’ Josh Hart gets ‘nuts’ grabbed

The 2025 NBA Playoffs have seen the return of 90s-style physical basketball. But this series between the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks was possibly the least physical of all. That changed slightly in Game 5 today.

'Bloodied' Josh Hart in Game 5
‘Bloodied’ Josh Hart in Game 5 (Image via Complex Sports/X)

In the first quarter, Josh Hart saw an opening and drove to the rim. Luke Kornet was there to try and slow him down, but his elbow caught the Knicks forward before he could get a hand on the ball. Hart went down, and instantly, blood gushed out of his face.

The game was stopped, and he was stitched up on the sidelines. He did not miss a play and went back in to help his team stay close to the Celtics. Then, early in the third quarter, his body was under attack again, this time from Jaylen Brown.

Coming off a screen, he came face-to-face with Brown. The reigning NBA Finals MVP tried to move around Hart, and in that instant, grabbed his crotch area. Josh Hart confronted him, and they started shoving each other. Ultimately, teammates and officials stepped in to calm everyone down. These instances were the highlight of an otherwise uneventful game of basketball.

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