The Celtics would have to stage that rare comeback without their best player in Tatum, who suffered a torn Achilles at the end of Game 4. His teammates stepped up in his absence Wednesday, with Derrick White scoring 34 points and Jaylen Brown adding 26 points and a postseason career-high 12 assists.

BOSTON — The Celtics didn’t have Jayson Tatum. The Knicks were missing Karl-Anthony Towns. Game 5’s 127-102 ugly loss to the Celtics produced another no-show until garbage time from the Knicks center, whose impact and aggressiveness in this series remains below his All-Star status.

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! While his Boston Celtics will be fighting to keep their season alive Wednesday night, Jayson Tatum underwent successful surgery to repair an Achilles tendon that ruptured in a Game 4 loss to the New York Knicks.

New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau sends a heartfelt message to Jayson Tatum after the Boston Celtics star suffered an Achilles injury.

The Celtics will be noticeably short-handed, as they will be without their All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum. Tatum went down in the closing minutes of Game 4 with a non-contact injury, later deemed to be a ruptured Achilles.

The Knicks came at the Celtics with haymakers Wednesday night, Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. They held a nine-point lead early in the second quarter and were playing well, then Karl-Anthony Towns picked up his third foul. They were still tied at 59 at the half. The game — the series — was still there for the taking.

Jalen Brunson and the Knicks visit TD Garden for Game 5 against a Celtics team adjusting to life without Jayson Tatum. Data-driven projections still give Boston the edge.