Is Jayson Tatum playing against Hawks? Latest injury update on Celtics' star ahead of matchup (April 9, 2023)

Jayson Tatum may not be available against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday. The Boston Celtics star is dealing with a hip injury and has been listed as day-to-day on the injury report.

Tatum has been one of the healthiest players in the 2022-23 season. He's only missed seven games this season, and thanks to his impressive performances, the Celtics finished the season with the second-best record in the league.

Considering that the upcoming matchup has no playoff implications, the team will likely give Jayson Tatum a day off. The Celtics could face the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs, which is why getting healthy should be their top priority.

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Jayson Tatum will likely rest on Sunday against the Atlanta Hawks

When it comes to total points scored this season, no NBA player has been better than Jayson Tatum. In 74 games, the 6-foot-8 forward has scored 2,225 total points, leading the league.

Tatum is averaging 30.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game, all career-high numbers. He's played against the Atlanta Hawks twice this season, leading his team to two big victories.

The 25-year-old forward is the sixth-best scorer in the league and is having a career year. Considering how fantastic he has been, he'll certainly make an All-NBA Team for the third time in his career.

Tatum has appeared in 74 games this season (Image via Getty Images)

The Boston Celtics have clinched the second-best record in the East and in the league. Due to this, Sunday's matchup is not important to them as it doesn't have any playoff implications, which is why Jayson Tatum will likely be sidelined.

The game will tip-off at 1 PM ET.

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Furthermore, the Atlanta Hawks may also rest their players. The Hawks are in the eighth spot in the conference and cannot improve or lose it. They will face the Miami Heat in their first play-in game and may also meet the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs.

Tatum has played 20 games against the Hawks in his career (Image via Getty Images)

The Celtics superstar has played 20 games against the Hawks during his 6-year NBA career. He's averaging 23.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game against them.

Tatum's greatest performance against Atlanta was a 38-point, 10-rebound double-double in February 2022. He's had six 30-point games against the Hawks and two double-doubles.

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If the Hawks defeat the Heat in the play-in tournament on Tuesday, they will face the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs. If they lose, however, Boston will face the Heat, one of their toughest rivals in the Eastern Conference.