Overview
- The 28-year-old started his first game since rupturing his right Achilles last May and having surgery on May 13, returning after 298 days.
- He finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in 27 minutes as Boston beat Dallas 120-100 at TD Garden.
- A standing ovation greeted his introduction, and after early rust—including six straight misses and a flubbed dunk—he scored on a putback before knocking down a corner three.
- Coach Joe Mazzulla declined to specify a minutes cap pregame, while ESPN reported none; Tatum played in short stints and checked out with just over five minutes left.
- The victory moved the Celtics to 42-21 and second in the East, setting up roughly a month to re-integrate Tatum’s role alongside Jaylen Brown and a deep rotation before the postseason.