After months of anticipation for Jayson Tatum's return from his Achilles injury, the Boston Celtics now face an anxious wait ahead of a do-or-die Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers. The star forward exited Game 6 during the third quarter with an apparent left leg issue, and the Sixers seized the moment, cruising to a win that forced a decisive seventh game.

Here's the critical distinction: this is not the same leg Tatum injured before. His Achilles tear was on his right side, and he worked his way back to play late in the regular season. During Thursday night's game, Tatum was seen hopping and jumping during timeouts, trying to test his leg before ultimately deciding he couldn't return.

But the early signs are encouraging. On Friday morning, ESPN's Shams Charania shared an update on Get Up, noting that "it's positive right now." According to Charania, head coach Joe Mazzulla downplayed the situation, denying it was an injury at all, while Tatum himself described it as "just stiffness." Even more reassuring: Tatum reportedly told his teammates after the game that he's "fine, good to go."

The expectation in Boston is that Tatum will be on the floor for Game 7. Still, there's a natural layer of concern—leaving a potential closeout game and not returning raises eyebrows, even if Mazzulla's denial suggests it was minor. The Celtics have seen far worse scenarios play out, and by comparison, this feels manageable.

All eyes will be on Tatum's movement in Game 7. If he's as good as advertised, Boston's chances get a massive boost. For the Indiana Pacers, who hold a 52.1% draft pick tied to this series outcome, the stakes couldn't be higher. But for now, Celtics fans can breathe—their star is expected to play.