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.

During an appearance on ESPN's "NBA Today," NBA insider Marc J. Spears shared details of an emotional conversation between Tatum and his father following the devastating injury. According to Spears, Tatum asked his father, "Why me, dad? Why me? Why does this have to happen to me?"

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

Jayson Tatum's heart-wrenching conversation with his father, Justin, immediately after he went through his Achilles injury, was shared by an NBA insider.

Jayson Tatum heard it all after the Celtics blew Game 2 to the Knicks. After a bounce-back performance, he spoke about the perspective needed when it comes to being Boston's top player.

Meanwhile, Tatum, who is 12 for 43 in this Knicks series overall (including 5 of 20 from 3), has missed eight of 10 shots and all four of his 3-pointers in 19 clutch minutes so far in this postseason. It's an extension of a regular season in which he shot 6 for 31 from 3 and just 65% from the free-throw line during clutch minutes.

The NBA playoff picture took a significant turn with the reigning champion Boston Celtics losing Jayson Tatum to a torn Achilles in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.