KeithSmithNBA

Big win for the Heat. Snapped the Hornets win streak and won the tiebreaker over charlotte. That could be big in terms of seeding at the end of the year.

That'll very likely do it for Jayson Tatum in the return game:

15 points
12 rebounds
7 assists
1 steal
27 minutes

Neemias Queta just destroyed that shot at the rim on defense. Then good stuff from Jaylen Brown to slow it down and reward Queta who sprinted the floor for the and-1.

I am so irrationally happy right now. Freeze this moment for a while, please!

Klay Thompson has 16 points, but it feels like 60. He's letting it rip the second the ball hits his hands.

Celtics are going to need more of this from Garza with Vucevic out for a month. The good thing is that Garza has already shown that he's capable of giving the team solid backup center minutes.

Could be a chance for Amari Williams as the third guys on some nights too.

Vooch missing a month will give him about two weeks to get back in rhythm before the playoffs.

The good news? It's a finger injury, so he should be able to keep his conditioning up through cardio work.

Jaylen Brown has made some really nice reads tonight. He's found Derrick White a few times on cuts.

Celtics are moving the ball well overall. 16 assists on 25 hoops.

Shouldn't get lost in everything else tonight:

Luka Garza gave Boston great minutes in the first half. Has been out of the rotation after the Celtics acquired Nikola Vucevic. Vooch got hurt and Garza gave Boston 10 points, 3 offensive rebounds and a block in the first half.

Jayson Tatum triple-double watch in his first game back? At halftime he's got:

5 points
5 rebounds
5 assists

Legs aren't there for Tatum yet, as was to be expected. Got blocked by the rim on a dunk attempt and has left some jumpers short. It'll come. All part of the process.

Celtics are generating good shots on most trips. Just missing a lot of them. Tatum has made some nice reads as a passer so far.

Nikola Vucevic is OUT for the rest of the game with a fracture right ring finger, per the Celtics.

Tatum back on the floor to start the second quarter. Out there with Queta, Hauser, Pritchard and White.

Looks like they took the hoop away. Came after the buzzer. Oh well.

An ORPIT buzzer beater??? I've seen it all now!

FWIW, the national TV crew meets with the coaches separately from everyone else. What Mazzulla said to everyone else when he was was, "I don't know."

Luka Garza came in for Nikola Vucevic during that last timeout. Vucevic seemed like he did something to his right hand a couple of plays before the timeout.

Flagg is staying in the game, but doesn't really look comfortable.

Cooper Flagg had missed time with a left mid-foot sprain. Looked like he may have tweaked that same foot on that last drive.

Michael Malone just said on the ESPN broadcast that Joe Mazzulla told the ESPN team that Jayson Tatum has no minutes restriction.

Jordan Walsh is out tonight with an illness, per the Celtics.

It’s always made the most sense to me for Tatum to start.

1. When you come off the bench, you sit for at least 15-20 minutes of real time between warming up and checking in. That’s a long time.

2. Tatum has always started. It’s a huge mindset shift to come off the bench. He’s got enough going on.

The Boston Celtics have upgraded Jayson Tatum to available to play in tonight's game vs the Mavericks.

Starting NOW!

www.youtube.com/live/n8YrIeT...

LIVE @frontofficeshow.bsky.social Friday will start around 1 PM ET today! Join @trevorlanenba.bsky.social and I as we answer your questions to wrap up the week in the NBA!

Link to come when show is live.

It’s Jayson Tatum Day!

Jayson Tatum's Return, Nuggets Getting Healthy, Standings Watch & More YouTube video by NBA Front Office

New @frontofficeshow.bsky.social is up! @trevorlanenba.bsky.social & I went deep on Jayson Tatum returning (I think it's good, but could be bumpy early on), Aaron Gordon coming back soon, other injury updates and transaction SZN is (mostly) over!

Watch, like and subscribe:
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It was already a tough ticket with Cooper Flagg in town, so good luck.