After several weeks since the Jan. 8 game against the Washington Wizards Boston Celtics All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum played his last game with the team, the Duke product is officially off the Celtics’ injury report entirely and expected to play against the Chicago Bulls on Monday night.
Having spent that time in the NBA’s health and safety protocol after an asymptomatic positive COVID-19 test after the Wizards game, Tatum returns to a Celtic team with a surging Jaylen Brown and a healthy Kemba Walker, the latter having since returned from an extended ramp-up period to prepare his knee for the 2020-21 season.
Boston Celtics at Chicago Bulls: How to watch, TV channel, start time https://t.co/rmQjaWIvO6
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) January 25, 2021
Walker won’t be suiting up against the Bulls however, ruled out the night before as the UConn product won’t be playing the second nights of back-to-backs for the foreseeable future as part of his rehabilitative approach.
The New Yorker will be on the bench with recently-injured rookie point guard Payton Pritchard (knee) and second-year wing Romeo Langford (wrist), who remains out as he works his way back from an offseason injury to repair a torn tendon.
Celtics vs. Cavs: All the best photos from Sunday's blowout win https://t.co/xLP4Wv9f8c via @thecelticswire pic.twitter.com/5gnrbSaV5X
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) January 25, 2021
Chicago only lists big man Wendell Carter Jr. (quad contusion) and shooting guard Adam Mokoka (concussion) as out on their roster, leaving the Celtics to face a 7 – 9 Bulls squad that have won five of their last 10 contests.
Boston ought to win this one handily so long as it builds on the play it showed vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, but a lackadaisical effort against Chicago could end in an unpalatable result.
