Celtics Discuss Trying to Overcome Jayson Tatum's Ankle Injury in Game 7 Loss to Heat: 'A Shell of Myself'

The Celtics' hopes of making history were doomed from the start of Game 7.

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

One win away from becoming the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3-0 deficit, one victory from returning to the NBA Finals, the Celtics were dealt a devastating blow on the first play of Game 7.

Jayson Tatum rolled his left ankle when he came down on Gabe Vincent's left foot, leaving him compromised the rest of the night.

Jayson Tatum rolls his ankle. 😳

https://t.co/0dK05APvMB

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 30, 2023

"(It) swelled up, and it was just frustrating that I was kind of like a shell of myself. It was tough to move," the two-time All-NBA First Team member expressed after Boston's season-ending 103-84 loss.

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Jaylen Brown, who committed eight of the hosts' 15 turnovers, a career-high, and finished with 19 points on 8/23 shooting, including faring 1/9 from beyond the arc, said a lot of why his team failed to compensate for the impact of Tatum's ankle injury falls on him.

"Just a terrible game when my team needed me most," stated the two-time All-Star.

Marcus Smart voiced of Tatum playing 42 minutes on a bad wheel, "He stayed in, and he tried to fight. Obviously, you could see he wasn't himself, and his ankle was really killing him."

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Smart also pointed to trying to overcome Derrick White, Boston's best player on Sunday, scoring 13 points in the third quarter, attempting to will his team to a comeback before leaving due to a knee injury in the final frame, and Malcolm Brogdon dealing with a right forearm strain that compromised his shooting.

Head coach Joe Mazzulla refused to use injuries as an excuse for what unfolded at TD Garden on Sunday, saying, "We didn't play well. The Heat played better than we did today, and that's it."

Whether one wants to use the Celtics' injuries as a crutch or not, the reality is, they're onto an offseason filled with questions about what direction the franchise will go. That most notably includes Boston and Jaylen Brown deciding whether its partnership will continue.

Further Reading

Here's What Stood Out in Game 7 Loss to Heat: Celtics Come Up Small, Enter Offseason of Uncertainty

Jaylen Brown Reacts to Historic Run Against Miami Heat in Eastern Conference Finals

Derrick White Discusses Season-Saving Buzzer Beater: 'Now It's on to Game 7'

Here's What Stood Out in Game 6 Win vs. Heat: Derrick White Saves Celtics Season as March Toward History Continues

The Celtics Could've Folded and Flamed Out, Instead, They're Inching Closer to History: 'We're Not Going Down Like This'

Film Room: Grant Williams' Value on Full Display in Celtics' Game 4 Win vs. Heat

Celtics Stars Speak on Team Sticking Together Down 3-0: 'We Didn't Want That to Define Us'

Celtics Discuss Returning to Identity Best Suiting Them in Game 4 Win: 'We're a Team That Believes in Us No Matter What'

Jaylen Brown Responds to Rumors of Disconnect in Celtics Locker Room