On May 5, 1991, Larry Bird suffered a frightening head injury during a playoff game against the Indiana Pacers. He left the floor, returned, and finished with 32 points to help the Boston Celtics close out the series. More than three decades later, another Celtics star found himself in a similar situation.

Jayson Tatum was already in the middle of a strong start to the season when he collided with Orlando Magic forward Jamal Cain on Sunday. The impact left Tatum bleeding from the back of his head, forcing him to leave the game for treatment. Boston suddenly had to finish the opening half without its leading scorer.

But the Celtics were not about to let the injury derail their night. Tatum returned in the second quarter, and what followed was a performance that put him alongside two of the greatest players in franchise history.

The collision happened with just one second remaining in the first quarter at the Kia Center. Tatum had the ball near midcourt and attempted to spin past Cain, but the back of his head struck the Magic forward’s forehead. The contact appeared accidental, and the play was ruled a backcourt violation on Boston.

Tatum immediately realized he was bleeding and approached the officials to show them the injury. The Celtics’ coaching staff was visibly frustrated that no foul had been called, while the broadcast team questioned the decision.

“Oh, it’s cut on the head. Yeah. How are you not going to call a foul with that? Doesn’t make a lot of sense.”

Boston’s head trainer Drew Moore checked Tatum on the court before Nick Sang accompanied him to the locker room. Tatum left with a towel pressed to his head, and the Celtics were left waiting to see when their star would return.

The timing could hardly have been worse. Boston had already lost its season opener to Detroit, and the Celtics were trying to extend their winning streak to five games. Tatum had scored eight points and dished out three assists in the opening quarter, giving the team an early offensive boost.

The Celtics managed to hold their ground without him. Boston entered the second quarter trailing by one, but the team gradually took control and built a five-point halftime lead. Tatum returned with 6:13 remaining in the second quarter, giving Boston its leading scorer back just as the game began to open up.

According to The Boston Globe, Tatum did not require stitches and returned to the bench for his normal second-period minutes. The Celtics did not release a further medical update after the game.

Tatum’s return was significant for more than just the immediate result. He had spent a year recovering from an Achilles tear suffered during the 2025 playoffs, and this was his first full season back. The sight of him leaving the court injured again was bound to bring back uncomfortable memories for Boston fans.

But Tatum was not finished. He ended the night with 32 points, seven assists, four rebounds, and two blocks, shooting 8-of-19 from the field. He also made 15 of his 17 free throws, matching Orlando’s entire team total.

The performance put him in an exclusive group. Through Boston’s first six games, Tatum became only the third player in franchise history to average at least 28 points and seven assists over that stretch. Larry Bird and John Havlicek were the only Celtics to reach the mark before him.

Tatum entered the game averaging 28.3 points, 7.7 assists, and six rebounds. His latest performance helped him maintain that pace, while also showing how much his game has grown beyond scoring.

Joe Mazzulla was particularly impressed with Tatum’s ability to control the game and get to the free-throw line.

“He’s doing a great job of playing with poise. He’s doing a great job creating separation and he’s changing pace below the free-throw line.”

Tatum’s ability to draw fouls became especially important as Boston struggled to find its rhythm from three-point range. The Celtics made just 12 of their 44 attempts from beyond the arc, but they compensated by attacking the basket and getting to the line.

That approach helped Boston stay ahead even as Orlando made several attempts to take control. The Magic opened the game with a 13-4 run, but Boston answered with a 7-0 stretch without calling a timeout. The Celtics took a narrow lead into the second quarter and gradually built on it.

Boston’s defense also played a major role. Orlando committed 18 turnovers, including eight in the opening quarter, and the Celtics converted those mistakes into 21 points. Boston also collected 14 offensive rebounds and scored 15 second-chance points, compared with Orlando’s 13 offensive boards and 12 second-chance points.

The Celtics built their biggest lead of the night early in the third quarter, when they shut out Orlando over the first four minutes of the half. The Magic responded with a 12-0 run, fueled by three of Tristan da Silva’s five three-pointers, and cut Boston’s lead to 77-74 entering the fourth quarter.

Orlando continued to push. Anthony Black picked off a Paul George outlet pass and completed a three-point play to tie the game at 79 early in the fourth. The Magic had a chance to take control, but Boston’s second unit responded with a decisive stretch.

Paul George, Payton Pritchard, and Baylor Scheierman helped Boston build a 97-85 lead while Tatum remained on the bench. George scored 10 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter, including two three-pointers, as the Celtics extended their advantage.

Mazzulla explained why he allowed the group to stay on the floor rather than immediately bringing Tatum back into the game.

“You want to get those guys back in, but at the same time, we’re playing really well so we were in that sweet spot and I just kind of wanted to ride those guys.”

Tatum was happy to see his teammates take advantage of the opportunity. The Celtics had talked about their depth throughout the season, and the fourth quarter gave them a chance to prove it.

“No, I was all for it. I mean, those guys was rolling. We talk about all the time the depth of our team is 10, 12, 13 deep. [If] we’re going to talk about it, and then in those moments we have to kind of be about it, right? And it’s a long season. You want to have moments like that. You want the guys off the bench and other guys that play really well and carry a lead and grow the lead. So that was cool to see.”

Orlando was not ready to give up. Desmond Bane cut Boston’s lead to 97-93 with 3:59 remaining, putting the pressure back on the Celtics. Tatum responded by scoring or assisting on nine consecutive Boston points, using two pull-up jumpers and two assists to Neemias Queta and George to keep the Magic at a distance.

George’s three-pointer with 1:32 remaining gave Boston an 11-point lead and effectively sealed the game. He finished with 17 points, eight assists, six rebounds, two steals, and two blocks, providing the kind of all-around performance that Boston needs from him.

George has averaged 20.7 points, six rebounds, and five assists through his first six games with the Celtics. His defensive production has been another major addition, and his ability to manage the offense while Tatum rests has become an important part of Boston’s early-season success.

George explained how seriously he approaches those minutes, especially when Tatum is on the bench.

“So much is asked of JT and he’s done an amazing job to deliver. When he can get his rest, I try to make sure that he’s not pressing over there and so when he checks back in, he can get acclimated when he’s ready. I do take those minutes very important that I can give him the rest that he needs.”

Boston’s supporting cast also played a major role in the win. Derrick White finished with 12 points, while Luka Garza added 12 points and six rebounds off the bench. Scheierman scored 10 points, and Queta provided important defensive plays in the closing minutes.

Orlando had its own standout performances. Black and da Silva each scored 23 points, while Franz Wagner finished with 14 points and a career-high 12 assists. Wagner struggled from the field, making just five of his 20 attempts, but he still found ways to create opportunities for his teammates.

The Magic were also without Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs, which limited their options as they tried to close the gap. Boston took advantage of Orlando’s mistakes and poor shooting in the fourth quarter, holding the Magic to just 7-of-24 from the field in the final period.

The victory improved Boston to 5-1 and extended its winning streak to five games. It was a strong response after the season-opening loss to Detroit, and the Celtics showed they could win even when their best player was forced to leave the floor.

For Tatum, the night was another reminder of how far he has come since his Achilles injury. He had already returned to the court after a year of rehab, and now he was back in the middle of another difficult game, delivering a historic performance after a frightening collision.

The Celtics have plenty of reasons to feel confident about their start. Their depth is producing, their defense is forcing mistakes, and Tatum is playing at an elite level. But the most memorable moment of the night may have been the one that came before any of those things mattered.

Tatum walked off the court bleeding, returned to the game, and finished with 32 points. It was a performance that echoed Bird’s playoff heroics more than three decades earlier, and one that gave Boston another reason to believe its season could be special.