Jayson Tatum’s return to the Celtics’ lineup, 298 days after tearing his right Achilles tendon in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, was the story across the NBA Friday night, not to mention one of the most intriguing plot developments of the entire season.
But the citizens of one New England state could be forgiven if Tatum’s triumphant return — he finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists, looking like a slightly rusty version of the Jayson Tatum who has been a first-team All-NBA selection for four straight seasons — was merely a satisfying sidebar to the main story from their perspective.