Celtics make Jayson Tatum a surprise late scratch vs. Magic Monday

Jayson Tatum didn’t suit up against the Orlando Magic on Monday night after being a late scratch just minutes before tip-off. The Celtics added the All-Star forward to the team’s injury report just 12 minutes into the game, listing him as questionable due to a non-COVID illness.

According to reports, Tatum did not appear with his teammates during the starting lineup, with Al Horford replacing him in the starting five. He did not sit with his teammates on the bench in the first quarter when the team officially listed him as out for the game.

Monday is just the third game Tatum has missed this year during the team’s 22-6 start. Boston has gone 2-0 in games without Tatum this year with a pair of wins over the Pistons. The Celtics also got a bit of injury news before tipoff Monday night when Sam Hauser was cleared to play after a two-game absence with back spasms.

The Magic are also extremely shorthanded for the matchup without their two best players in Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner for the last month due to torn right obliques. Elsewhere, former Celtics big man and Magic center Mo Wagner suffered a torn ACL in Orlando’s last game, which will sideline him for the year. Gary Harris (hamstring strain) has also been ruled out.

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