Overview
- Jayson Tatum left Monday’s 134-99 win over the Chicago Bulls with 6:53 remaining and his status for Tuesday’s game against Brooklyn remains undecided.
- Coach Joe Mazzulla said the team will rely on its sports-science staff and make a final availability decision before tip-off.
- Tatum has paced the Celtics early, averaging about 24 points through three games after missing most of 2025–26 with a ruptured Achilles.
- Boston showed depth in the Bulls rout, with Payton Pritchard scoring 28 and the bench combining for 79 points, which reduces the immediate impact if Tatum rests.
- The Nets enter 0-3 and continue to struggle on defense, allowing 123.7 points per game and poor communication that coach Jordi Fernandez and Julius Randle have publicly criticized.