Tatum back at Madison Square Garden for 1st time since injury, but Celtics without Brown vs. Knicks

NEW YORK (AP) — Jayson Tatum is set to play at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night for the first time since rupturing his Achilles tendon there in last season's playoffs.

He'll be without teammate Jaylen Brown, though, as the Celtics ruled him out of their showdown against the New York Knicks with left Achilles tendinitis.

The Celtics will lock up the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with a victory, a position that many thought was unrealistic because they would be playing for at least most of the season without Tatum.

He was hurt last May 12 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals when he fell to the court in the fourth quarter of a Knicks victory. New York went on to win the series, ending the Celtics’ championship reign.

Tatum went through the Celtics' morning shootaround at MSG on Thursday and told reporters afterward that he felt “nervousness, anxiousness. All the things you probably would expect.”

Asked how he would get through it, he added: “I think it's just deciding to face the challenge head-on and put my uniform on.”

Tatum returned March 6 and has played in 15 games, averaging 21.6 points and 9.8 rebounds. He said after the Celtics' home victory over Charlotte on Tuesday that he wasn't “thrilled to go back and play” at Madison Square Garden.

“Last time I played there, obviously, it was a traumatic experience for me,” he added.

Brown helped carry the Celtics through Tatum's absence with a superb season. The All-Star is averaging 28.8 points in 70 games.

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Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown looks on during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives with the ball in front of Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons have reached an agreement on a one-year, $5 million deal with former Kansas City Chiefs right tackle Jawaan Taylor.

The agreement, which includes an extra $1 million in incentives, was first reported by ESPN and announced on social media by Taylor's agent, Drew Rosenhaus.

Taylor will have an opportunity to move into the starting right tackle position left vacant Wednesday when Kaleb McGary announced his retirement after missing the 2025 season with a lower left leg injury.

McGary’s retirement was announced as the Falcons opened voluntary offseason workouts with new coach Kevin Stefanski.

The right tackle position will be especially important to provide blindside protection for the Falcons' two left-handed quarterbacks, Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa.

Taylor was released by the Chiefs in a cost-cutting move on March 5.

The Chiefs saved $20 million by releasing Taylor ahead of the new league year. He had one year left on the four-year, $80 million deal he signed in 2023.

Taylor, 28, was a second-round draft pick by Jacksonville in 2019. He started each of his 111 games in seven seasons with the Jaguars and Chiefs. In his 45 games over three seasons with the Chiefs, Taylor was called for 49 penalties, more than any other offensive lineman during that span.

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Head Coach Kevin Stefanski speaks during an Atlanta Falcons NFL media availability, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

FILE - Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor (74) looks to block during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Oct. 8, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr, File)