The Boston Celtics championship defense is still alive. In the team's first game since losing star forward Jayson Tatum, big nights from Jaylen Brown and Derrick White helped steer the team to a 127-102 victory over the New York Knicks and cut the series deficit to 3-2.

The Boston Celtics should have folded like a wet cardboard box. But they did not, and instead put together one of their best games in recent memory.

According to Marc Spears, Jayson Tatum's father said that his son is looking at an eight to nine-month recovery from a ruptured Achilles.

Celtics fans remain hopeful for Jayson Tatum after he suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in a game against the Knicks.

The star forward recently completed surgery on his right Achilles tendon that was ruptured in the Celtics' Eastern Conference semifinals Game 4.

A six-time All-Star, Tatum had an emotional conversation with his father after tearing his Achilles tendon. Spears revealed the details of the talk on NBA Today with Malika Andrews of ESPN.