Jayson Tatum set to return vs. Bulls; Pritchard, Langford remain OUT

After several weeks since the Jan. 8 game against the Washington Wizards Boston Celtics All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum played his last game with the team, the Duke product is officially off the Celtics’ injury report entirely and expected to play against the Chicago Bulls on Monday night.

Having spent that time in the NBA’s health and safety protocol after an asymptomatic positive COVID-19 test after the Wizards game, Tatum returns to a Celtic team with a surging Jaylen Brown and a healthy Kemba Walker, the latter having since returned from an extended ramp-up period to prepare his knee for the 2020-21 season.

Walker won’t be suiting up against the Bulls however, ruled out the night before as the UConn product won’t be playing the second nights of back-to-backs for the foreseeable future as part of his rehabilitative approach.

The New Yorker will be on the bench with recently-injured rookie point guard Payton Pritchard (knee) and second-year wing Romeo Langford (wrist), who remains out as he works his way back from an offseason injury to repair a torn tendon.

Chicago only lists big man Wendell Carter Jr. (quad contusion) and shooting guard Adam Mokoka (concussion) as out on their roster, leaving the Celtics to face a 7 – 9 Bulls squad that have won five of their last 10 contests.

Boston ought to win this one handily so long as it builds on the play it showed vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, but a lackadaisical effort against Chicago could end in an unpalatable result.

Related

Boston Celtics at Chicago Bulls: How to watch, TV channel, start time

Celtics vs. Bulls: Prediction, point spread, odds, over/under, betting picks

Bill Russell, Kendrick Perkins react to Jaylen Brown's record night on Twitter

WATCH: Jaylen Brown scores 33 points in just 19 minutes vs. Cavs

List

Celtics crush Cavs 141-103 as star wing Jaylen Brown breaks scoring records