Jayson Tatum will miss Celtics game against Thunder

"Tatum is still managing the right Achilles injury that caused him to miss the bulk of the regular season. This will be the first game he has missed since returning against the Mavericks on Friday. Tatum has played exactly 27 minutes in all three games since his return. He has said publicly that he's on a minutes restriction."

"Tatum has shown flashes of scoring ability, but his jumpshot and overall leaping ability both need work. He has yet to block a shot this season, and his rebounding numbers have taken a dip since he grabbed 12 in his return."

"The Thunder (51-15) have the best overall record in the NBA. They're also the defending NBA champions. The Celtics are (43-22) are second in the Eastern Conference behind Detroit and have the fourth-best record in the league."

Jayson Tatum is unavailable for the Celtics' Thursday matchup with the Thunder as he manages his right Achilles injury. This marks his first missed game since returning Friday against the Mavericks. Tatum has played exactly 27 minutes in each of his three games back, operating under a minutes restriction. He is averaging 19.7 points but shooting only 39.3 percent from the field and 29 percent from three-point range. His jumping ability and shot consistency require improvement. The Celtics are 2-1 since Tatum's return, with victories over Dallas and Cleveland but a loss to San Antonio. Payton Pritchard returns after missing Tuesday with neck spasms, while Derrick White is questionable with a knee contusion. The Thunder hold the league's best record at 51-15.

Read at Boston.com