Jayson Tatum out for Game 7 in huge Celtics injury crusher

The Celtics will be without a key piece for a win-or-go-home game.Jayson Tatum will miss Game 7 against the 76ers on Saturday night due to a left knee stiffness, the Celtics announced.Tatum was added to the Celtics’ injury report earlier in the day with a left knee issues and was considered questionable.“He came in today with knee discomfort,” head coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters before Saturday’s game.

“We decided, the medical team and myself decided he wouldn’t play.”The 28-year-old exited with 4:03 left in the third quarter of their Game 6 loss on Thursday, and he did not return.Mazzulla said he was unsure if Tatum had suffered the knee issue on a certain play.“I know at the time — what was it, end of the third [quarter] — I know he was in the back getting treatment,” Mazzulla said of Tatum’s Game 6 exit.

“I talked to him yesterday, and then today he came in, he has stiffness in it and we kind of made the decision for him.”Tatum returned to the court in March after suffering a torn right Achilles in the second round of the playoffs last year against the Knicks.He shook off most of the rust quickly, averaging 21.8 points, 10 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 16 regular season games.

His stats looked even better in the playoffs (23.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 6.8 assists).But if Boston wants a Knicks rematch, it’ll have to do it without a six-time All-Star....