NBA Notes: Celtics, Jayson Tatum, Magic, Anthony Black, Bulls
Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum acknowledged a distinct shift in emotions during his second game back after Achilles surgery. Following an emotionally charged season debut at home in Boston, Tatum described Sunday's game in Cleveland as a return to normalcy, a positive development for him.
"The other day was such a big deal," Tatum remarked, as reported by Jay King of The Athletic. "Obviously, a home game in Boston, I had a lot of family in town. Today just kind of felt like getting back in the flow of things."
Despite playing under a minutes restriction, Tatum still contributed 20 points as the Celtics secured a victory over the Cavaliers in a clash between Eastern Conference contenders. He quickly found his rhythm, scoring 12 points within the first seven minutes to help Boston establish an early lead. While his overall three-point shooting was inconsistent, Tatum hit a crucial late three to help fend off Cleveland.
Teammate Payton Pritchard expressed confidence in Tatum's abilities, stating, "I don’t think his game has gone anywhere. I’ve seen him working on it. Now it’s just about getting the flow back."
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic have announced that guard Anthony Black is dealing with a left lateral abdominal strain. Black exited Saturday’s game against the Timberwolves after just two minutes and was subsequently ruled out of Sunday’s contest in Milwaukee. The injury occurred when he was fouled on a drive and clutched his abdominal area.
Black has been a standout performer this season, emerging as a Most Improved Player candidate. He is averaging career highs with 15.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.
Meanwhile, Orlando also confirmed that forward Franz Wagner is making progress in his recovery from a high ankle sprain.
Chicago Bulls
Second-year forward Matas Buzelis is steadily ascending the league’s shot-blocking ranks. The Bulls forward currently stands seventh in the NBA with 94 blocks and is on the verge of becoming the franchise's first player in nearly a decade to reach the 100-block milestone in a single season.
"I’m really good at timing the block and knowing when guys will try and finish," Buzelis explained, via Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. "I feel like I’ve got the timing and the verticality. Straight up at the rim, it’s hard to finish over me."
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