Celtics star Jayson Tatum was left off Boston’s injury report on Friday ahead of the team’s Saturday matchup with the lowly Washington Wizards.

Tatum made his highly anticipated season debut last Friday after recovering from a right ruptured Achilles injury he suffered 10 months ago. However, he sat out Thursday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Celtics described his absence as “injury management” following his participation in three straight games.

The 28-year-old forward is currently playing under a minutes restriction as he eases back into competition, logging 27 minutes in each of his three starts so far. Head coach Joe Mazzulla emphasized that the team’s management plan for Tatum prioritizes the player’s long-term health.

“The goal was always for him to come back and also to maintain his health as he continues to stay healthy and continue to get better. Just the trust and communication from our team,” Mazzulla said.

Tatum has not played since Tuesday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs, where he scored a season-high 24 points and recorded two steals in Boston’s nine-point loss. Observers have noted that Tatum does not yet appear 100 percent confident in pushing off his right leg—a limitation that is expected to improve with time and proper rest, such as the recent day off.

Regarding the rest of Boston’s injury report, Baylor Scheierman (right ankle sprain) and Derrick White (right knee contusion) are both probable to play. Scheierman sustained his injury against the Thunder while filling in for Tatum. White, who also missed Thursday’s game alongside Tatum, suffered his injury during Tuesday’s matchup with the Spurs and received on-court treatment in the second half.

Nikola Vucevic (right ring finger fracture) remains out. He broke his finger during Tatum’s return game last week and underwent surgery the following day.

The Celtics will host the Washington Wizards at TD Garden on Saturday, with tipoff scheduled for 6 p.m. Eastern Time.
https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2026/03/13/jayson-tatum-available-injury-report-celtics-wizards/