Morning Sports Update
“This was a giant second for me.”
Jayson Tatum’s return to Madison Sq. Backyard: Jayson Tatum cleared an important hurdle in his return to the Celtics‘ lineup with a Thursday evening recreation towards the Knicks at Madison Sq. Backyard.
Because the scene of his injury last May, New York remained a setting Tatum was admittedly apprehensive about beforehand, acknowledging to reporters that he was “not thrilled” on the prospect of the April 9 matchup.
Nonetheless, he didn’t shrink back from the second, enjoying 40 minutes in Boston’s 112-106 loss towards the Knicks.
“This was a giant second for me,” he mentioned afterward. Tatum was candid about pregame nerves, but additionally credited New York followers for giving him just a few cheers throughout participant introductions.
“Since I’ve returned the reception that I’ve gotten from gamers, coaches I’ve by no means even spoken to, GMs, has been nice,” mentioned Tatum. “Even right this moment after they introduced my title, it was form of loud in there. And meaning rather a lot. Clearly, sporting a Celtics uniform, simply exhibiting their respect as a result of it occurred on this constructing. So I appreciated that.”
Knicks followers resumed regular practices for the remainder of the Celtics’ starters, who had been treated to a familiar chorus of boos.
Tatum additionally supplied a considerate reply on how he views enjoying on the self-described “world’s most well-known area.”
“I’ll at all times take pleasure in coming to play right here,” Tatum mentioned of Madison Sq. Backyard. “The surroundings; the environment. We’ve had some actually good video games. Clearly, the bottom level of my life was right here, however in a bizarre manner, it’s part of my story. So, good or dangerous, it should at all times be part of me.”
As he appears to be like ahead, Tatum additionally defined how the psychological re-acclimation interval after coming back from harm is reaching its conclusion.
“I’m undoubtedly checking off a number of bins,” he mentioned. “This is likely one of the previous few, clearly. Playoffs developing quickly, however this one was of those that was on the prime.”
Trivia: In line with Basketball Reference, just one participant within the final 50 years has performed no less than 100 common season video games for each the Celtics and Knicks. Are you able to title him?
(Reply on the backside).
Trace: He was drafted by the Magic twenty second total in 2008, and performed for eight NBA groups over the course of his 12-year profession. In school, he led the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers to a Candy 16 look in 2008.
Scores and schedules:
The Celtics misplaced to the Knicks 112-106 on Thursday. Boston hosts the Pelicans this night at 7:30 p.m.
The Pink Sox start a three-game collection in St. Louis towards the Cardinals at 8:15 p.m.
Tomorrow, the Bruins host the Lightning at TD Backyard at 12:30 p.m.
Additionally on Saturday (and also at TD Garden, notably), the Fleet are set to face the Montréal Victoire in entrance of a bought out crowd at 7 p.m.
And on Saturday night, the Revolution host D.C. United at 7:30 p.m.
Extra from Boston.com:
Extra on Jayson Tatum’s return to MSG: It was a giant second for the Celtics star as he made a return to the place the place he sustained his ruptured Achilles within the 2025 playoffs.
On this present day: In 1981, Carlton Fisk returned to Fenway Park for the primary time within the guests’ dugout. Having been allowed to turn out to be a free agent underneath seemingly unbelievable and bizarre circumstances just a few weeks earlier, the well-known New England native finally traded his pink socks for white ones.
In his first return to the previous ballpark, Fisk did what he was well-known for doing: hit a clutch residence run. However after years of doing so for the Pink Sox, his three-run shot within the eighth inning off Bob Stanley helped seal Boston’s destiny in a 5-3 White Sox win.
Each day spotlight: Talking of former Pink Sox (participant and announcer), right here’s Xander Bogaerts hitting a walk-off grand slam for the Padres towards the Rockies on Thursday (and Don Orsillo’s name).
SLAM DIEGO MADNESS
XANDER BOGAERTS WALK-OFF GRAND SLAM 😤 pic.twitter.com/kKJ85kWnfP
— MLB (@MLB) April 10, 2026
Trivia reply: Courtney Lee
Join the As we speak e-newsletter
Get every part it is advisable to know to begin your day, delivered proper to your inbox each morning.
