Morning Sports Update
“This was a big moment for me.”
Jayson Tatum drives at Mitchell Robinson, during the Celtics-Knicks game on April 9. AP Photo/John Munson
April 10, 2026 | 10:57 AM
3 minutes to read
Jayson Tatum’s return to Madison Square Garden: Jayson Tatum cleared an important hurdle in his return to the Celtics‘ lineup with a Thursday night game against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
As the scene of his injury last May, New York remained a setting Tatum was admittedly apprehensive about beforehand, acknowledging to reporters that he was “not thrilled” at the prospect of the April 9 matchup.
Still, he didn’t shy away from the moment, playing 40 minutes in Boston’s 112-106 loss against the Knicks.
“This was a big moment for me,” he said afterward. Tatum was candid about pregame nerves, but also credited New York fans for giving him a few cheers during player introductions.
“Since I’ve returned the reception that I’ve gotten from players, coaches I’ve never even spoken to, GMs, has been great,” said Tatum. “Even today when they announced my name, it was kind of loud in there. And that means a lot. Obviously, wearing a Celtics uniform, just showing their respect because it happened in this building. So I appreciated that.”
Knicks fans resumed normal practices for the rest of the Celtics’ starters, who were treated to a familiar chorus of boos.
Tatum also offered a thoughtful answer on how he views playing at the self-described “world’s most famous arena.”
“I’ll always enjoy coming to play here,” Tatum said of Madison Square Garden. “The environment; the atmosphere. We’ve had some really good games. Obviously, the lowest point of my life was here, but in a weird way, it’s a part of my story. So, good or bad, it will always be a part of me.”
As he looks forward, Tatum also explained how the mental re-acclimation period after returning from injury is reaching its conclusion.
“I’m definitely checking off a lot of boxes,” he said. “This is one of the last few, obviously. Playoffs coming up soon, but this one was of the ones that was at the top.”
Trivia: According to Basketball Reference, only one player in the last 50 years has played at least 100 regular season games for both the Celtics and Knicks. Can you name him?
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: He was drafted by the Magic 22nd overall in 2008, and played for eight NBA teams over the course of his 12-year career. In college, he led the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers to a Sweet 16 appearance in 2008.
Scores and schedules:
The Celtics lost to the Knicks 112-106 on Thursday. Boston hosts the Pelicans this evening at 7:30 p.m.
The Red Sox begin a three-game series in St. Louis against the Cardinals at 8:15 p.m.
Tomorrow, the Bruins host the Lightning at TD Garden at 12:30 p.m.
Also on Saturday (and also at TD Garden, notably), the Fleet are set to face the Montréal Victoire in front of a sold out crowd at 7 p.m.
And on Saturday evening, the Revolution host D.C. United at 7:30 p.m.
More from Boston.com:
More on Jayson Tatum’s return to MSG: It was a big moment for the Celtics star as he made a return to the place where he sustained his ruptured Achilles in the 2025 playoffs.
On this day: In 1981, Carlton Fisk returned to Fenway Park for the first time in the visitors’ dugout. Having been allowed to become a free agent under seemingly unbelievable and bizarre circumstances a few weeks earlier, the famous New England native eventually traded his red socks for white ones.
In his first return to the old ballpark, Fisk did what he was famous for doing: hit a clutch home run. But after years of doing so for the Red Sox, his three-run shot in the eighth inning off Bob Stanley helped seal Boston’s fate in a 5-3 White Sox win.
Daily highlight: Speaking of former Red Sox (player and announcer), here’s Xander Bogaerts hitting a walk-off grand slam for the Padres against the Rockies on Thursday (and Don Orsillo’s call).
SLAM DIEGO MADNESS
XANDER BOGAERTS WALK-OFF GRAND SLAM 😤 pic.twitter.com/kKJ85kWnfP
— MLB (@MLB) April 10, 2026
Trivia answer: Courtney Lee
Hayden Bird is a sports staff writer for Boston.com, where he has worked since 2016. He covers all things sports in New England.
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