BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum believes he would have been able to play if the Boston Celtics advanced to the second round of the NBA playoffs.But when the Celtics star experienced stiffness in his left knee before his team’s Game 7 home loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday, it was a sign he had to put his body first.That was a decision he stands by, even if his absence ultimately played a big part in Boston’s unexpected run to the No. 2 seed in the East ending with its earliest exit from the playoffs since the 2020-21 season. The Celtics lost a playoff series for the first time (32-1) when leading 3-1.“I just experienced some tightness back there (in his knee). It was just unfortunate timing, but I guess it was a little bit to be expected,” Tatum told reporters Sunday. Just 10-plus months removed from Achilles tendon surgery, Tatum’s return on March 6 and how well he played in 16 games to end the regular season turned a Celtics team that had overachieved without him into a 56-game winner with championship aspirations. Though this latest ailment relegated Tatum to the role of a spectator during Saturday’s loss, the
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