If one event can dramatically alter even the most sustainable team-building strategy, is it even possible to maintain a championship window?

May 12, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) dunks the ball in the second half during game four of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

It may be a long time before Celtics fans see Jayson Tatum back on the court, but he had a message to those watching Boston’s 127-102 win over the Knicks in Game 5.

The Celtics were clicking on all cylinders, with Derrick White leading the way. The role player, who has become much more than just that in recent years, finished with 34 points, shooting 7-of-13 from deep in the win.

Sure enough, with his stellar play against New York in Game 5, Kornet has inserted himself into NBA history. According to Celtics senior writer Taylor Snow, Kornet becomes the only player in league history to record his above statline or better.

The Celtics, without their All-Star scorer, without the engine that fuels a championship machine, live to see another day.

NBA players who suffered a ruptured Achilles’ tendon between 1970 and 2019 returned to play with varying degrees of success.

The New York Knicks enter the Game 5 matchup of the Eastern Conference semifinals with a 3-1 lead over the Boston Celtics.

The Boston Celtics live to play another day, beating the New York Knicks 127-102 in Game 5 Wednesday night and narrowing New York’s series lead to 3-2. Boston won its first game of the series since the injury to star Jayson Tatum,

SportsLine's model simulated New York vs. Boston 10,000 times and revealed its NBA picks for Wednesday's Game 5 Eastern Conference semifinal matchup, as the Celtics will be without leading scorer Jays