The Boston Celtics are coming out of the NBA All-Star break with a 35-19 record, which has them in second place in the Eastern Conference behind the Detroit Pistons. <\/p>\n
The New York Knicks are right behind the Celtics with a 35-20 record, and a total of five Eastern Conference teams have 30 or more wins. <\/p>\n
Former Celtics star Kendrick Perkins said during an episode of \u201cGet Up!\u201d that the Celtics are his \u201cdark horse\u201d NBA Finals team under one condition: The return of Jayson Tatum. <\/p>\n
\u201c[If] Jayson Tatum returns, they\u2019re my dark horse to win it all,\u201d Perkins said. \u201cJaylen Brown is the best two-way player in the game\u2026This team has a culture.\u201d <\/p>\n
“[If] Jayson Tatum returns, [the Celtics] are my dark horse to win it all. \u2026 Jaylen Brown is the best two-way player in the game.”<\/p>\n
\u2014@KendrickPerkins<\/a> on the Celtics’ chances to win the East \ud83d\udc40 pic.twitter.com\/TyWFShrbnW<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Get Up (@GetUpESPN) February 19, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Tatum suffered a devastating torn Achilles tendon in the Eastern Conference playoffs a year ago, throwing a wrench into the Celtics\u2019 hopes of another NBA Finals trip. <\/p>\n Yet, Tatum has been working hard to return, and he even practiced with the Celtics\u2019 G League team<\/a> recently. Tatum reportedly \u201clooked great\u201d in practice<\/a> with the G League team, but this was a step needed for him to make his return at some point. <\/p>\n