In the home locker room about 90 minutes before tipoff on Wednesday, the Celtics’ black jerseys with green lettering, all pressed and pristine, hung neatly in the locker of each player. And in the right corner, at Jayson Tatum’s stall, the superstar forward’s No. 0 rested on a hanger, too.

The Celtics played their best game of the series on Wednesday night after receiving a message from a hobbled Jayson Tatum.

Jayson Tatum was ruled out for the remainder of the NBA Playoffs and beyond after suffering a ruptured Achilles in the final minutes of Game 4. The former Duke standout underwent surgery the very next day (Tuesday) and will start the long recovery process.