Tatum Credits Durant’s Achilles Comeback as a Model for Hope

Jayson Tatum said Kevin Durant’s recovery from a torn Achilles gave him hope as he worked through the same injury. The Celtics forward spoke about Durant before Boston faced the Rockets at Houston’s Toyota Center on November 2, a matchup that carried added meaning for him because of Durant’s example and their history as opponents and Olympic teammates.

Durant, 38, tore his Achilles during the 2019 NBA Finals and missed the following season. He later returned to high-level play and appeared in 75, 62 and 78 games over the past three seasons. Tatum said seeing Durant remain effective after the injury helped him through rehabilitation, while recognizing Durant was an exceptional case.

Tatum also received his 14th Eastern Conference Player of the Week award after leading Boston to a 4-0 record. He averaged 30.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and seven assists, set a career high with 22 free-throw attempts against Brooklyn, and made a buzzer-beating winning shot in that game. Victor Wembanyama received the Western Conference award.

Paul George sat out the second night of a back-to-back for rest, while Mitchell Robinson returned after missing a game for the same reason. Coach Joe Mazzulla said he trusted rookie center Chris Cenac Jr.’s preparation despite the 19-year-old having played only seven minutes across two games. Former Celtic Marcus Smart, now with Houston, said he was eager to face his former teammates; he was averaging 11.8 points for the Rockets.