The final stretch of the NBA season is kicking off with a bang tonight, as the Golden State Warriors will host the Boston Celtics in a rematch of the 2022 championship series.
Both teams were trending in opposite directions heading into the All-Star break, with Golden State struggling to string together consecutive wins, and Boston winning six of their last seven games.
The Warriors’ excuse is that star point guard Stephen Curry hasn’t touched the court this month as he nurses a knee injury.
For the Celtics, they have shocked the league by surging towards the top of the Eastern Conference without their leader in Jayson Tatum.
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The All-NBA forward tore his Achilles against the New York Knicks in the playoffs last season and has been practicing with Boston’s G-League team, trying to make a historically quick return.
Here, it is revealed if he and Curry will finally return to the court for this star-studded matchup.
Warriors Injury Report: Stephen Curry Availability
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The Warriors have been frequent members of the NBA Play-In Tournament since their last championship win in 2022, and they’re in jeopardy of falling into it again.
They are four-and-a-half games out of the No. 6 seed, which guarantees a playoff appearance, and the road won’t get any easier with Curry remaining out.
Golden State is already without star forward Jimmy Butler III, who tore his ACL last month, so they are running out players to trot onto the court.
Draymond Green has never been known as a scorer, so it could be a drag for the Warriors trying to muster up some sort of offense.
It doesn’t sound like Curry will be dealing with the injury for much longer, but his team needs him back in a hurry.
Celtics Injury Report: Jayson Tatum Availability
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Tatum has been struggling with whether he should return this season because of the long-term risks of aggravating an Achilles injury.
He has made tremendous progress by all accounts, but he isn’t quite ready to step back onto the court.
Tatum’s teammate, Jaylen Brown, has stepped up in a big way during his absence this season, with career-high averages in all three major statistical categories.
With the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, Tatum’s return certainly isn’t necessary, but it just might lift Boston’s ceiling in the playoffs.
He will probably face criticism no matter which option he chooses, but he’ll have to weigh the pros and cons of risking his career for a shot at another title this season.