Celtics' Jayson Tatum Honest After Hawks Win

Tatum acknowledged his rust but vowed to keep giving it his all as he recovers from Achilles injury.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 8:54am

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Despite missing leading scorer Jaylen Brown, the Boston Celtics rallied from an early deficit to defeat the Atlanta Hawks 109-102 on Friday night. Celtics star Jayson Tatum, who is still working his way back from a torn Achilles tendon, scored a season-high 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in 37 minutes of action. After the game, Tatum was candid about his current form, saying 'I know I look rusty, I know I've made some mistakes, but one thing I do know is I'm trying my a** off.'

Why it matters

Tatum's honest self-assessment after the game shows his commitment to regaining his All-Star form as he continues to recover from a major injury. The Celtics will need Tatum at his best if they hope to make a deep playoff run, so his willingness to acknowledge his current limitations while vowing to keep pushing himself is an encouraging sign for the team and its fans.

The details

Tatum scored 21 of his 26 points in the second half, helping the Celtics overcome a 25-9 first-quarter deficit. Payton Pritchard kept Boston in the game early, scoring 19 points before halftime. The Celtics shot 47% from the field and 40% from three-point range, while the Hawks had no answer down the stretch.

  • The Celtics entered Friday's game without Jaylen Brown, who missed his first game since Tatum's return.
  • Tatum logged 37 minutes, his heaviest workload since returning from a torn Achilles tendon.

The players

Jayson Tatum

The Boston Celtics' star forward, who is still working his way back from a torn Achilles tendon suffered 10 and a half months ago.

Payton Pritchard

The Celtics' reserve guard, who scored 19 points in the first half to keep Boston in the game.

Jaylen Brown

The Celtics' leading scorer, who missed the game against the Hawks.

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What they’re saying

“I know I look rusty, I know I've made some mistakes, but one thing I do know is I'm trying my a** off. I'm a little winded but 10 and a half months after tearing my Achilles I'm giving it all I got. And I know each game I'm going to get a little better.”

— Jayson Tatum, Celtics Forward

What’s next

The Celtics will look for Tatum to continue building momentum as he works his way back to full strength. Their next game is against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.

The takeaway

Tatum's honest self-assessment and commitment to improvement despite his current limitations is a positive sign for the Celtics as they aim to make a deep playoff run. His willingness to acknowledge his rust while vowing to keep pushing himself is the mark of a true leader.