Jayson Tatum Ankle Sprain (Game 7, 2023 ECF)

On May 29, 2023, in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Jayson Tatum went down with an ankle injury on Boston's first possession of the deciding game, an event widely reported by national outlets covering the series [4][5]. The ankle issue limited Tatum's mobility and scoring effectiveness for the remainder of the contest, and postgame coverage focused on how the injury affected Boston's ability to execute on both ends of the floor in the decisive matchup [4][5]. The Heat won Game 7 in Boston, 103–84, a result contemporaneous accounts linked in part to Tatum being compromised early by the ankle sprain [4][5]. Following the game Tatum described the experience, saying, "It was just frustrating that I was just kind of a shell of myself," comments recorded in postgame reporting that reflected his assessment of play while limited by the injury [5]. The injury occurred on a widely replayed possession and became a central point in analyses of the Game 7 outcome.

Tatum's ankle sprain matters because it altered the competitive balance of a decisive Game 7 on Boston's home floor and because it entered the narrative of the 2023 ECF as a key factor in the series' concluding result [4][5]. For the rivalry, the episode is often cited when discussing contingencies—injuries and single-possession events—that decide postseason series between these two teams.

Immediately after the game, medical updates and team statements focused on the severity of Tatum's sprain and recovery timelines, while analysts and team personnel evaluated how his limitation affected Boston's execution in Game 7 [4][5]. In the longer term, Tatum's recovery and subsequent availability for the following season were followed closely by Celtics fans and media, and the injury remains part of retrospectives on the 2023 series outcome [4][5].