Tatum ruled out for Sixers-Celtics Game 7, George dealing with illness 

BOSTON — The hours before Game 7 of the Sixers’ first-round playoff series against the Celtics contained multiple significant pieces of health news.

Boston ruled superstar forward Jayson Tatum out with “left knee stiffness” about two hours before the 7:30 p.m. ET tip-off. On the Sixers’ side, both Paul George (illness) and Joel Embiid (appendectomy recovery) were upgraded to available after initially being listed as probable.

Following a late-season return from a ruptured right Achilles tendon, Tatum had played in the first six games of the Sixers-Celtics series. He averaged 23.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 6.8 assists.

Tatum exited late in the third quarter of the Sixers’ Game 6 win Thursday night and told reporters postgame his left leg was “a little stiff,” but the six-time All-Star said he expected to play.

However, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said Tatum came in Saturday with stiffness at the back of his left knee and the Celtics decided he’d sit Game 7. 

George’s illness apparently arrived out of the blue.

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said that George woke up “not feeling well” and missed the team’s Saturday morning shootaround. Embiid was present at shootaround and ultimately good for go for his fourth game post-appendectomy.

While Nurse didn’t say much about George, his tone suggested the illness is not minor.

“We’re expecting him to give it a shot,” Nurse said. 

George was indeed in the Sixers’ starting lineup with Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Embiid.

Without Tatum, Mazzulla radically changed his starters. Boston’s first five was Derrick White, Ron Harper Jr., Baylor Scheierman and Luka Garza.