Celtics injury report: Starting lineup remains questionable ahead of Trail Blazers matchup
All five starters appeared on the Celtics' injury report as of Monday morning.
Many familiar faces graced the Celtics’ injury report ahead of Monday night’s game against the Trailblazers.
According to the team, Kristaps Porzingis will sit out for his second-straight game, while Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White remain questionable.
Monday’s matchup versus Portland marks the Celtics’ fourth game in a week. They were 1-2 on the road last week, suffering tough losses to the Cavaliers and Nuggets. Despite the rocky stretch, the Celtics hold a strong 49-14 record with a substantial lead in the Eastern Conference.
It’s likely that coach Joe Mazzulla is opting to rest at least some of his starters before the team plays back-to-back games, moving on to the Utah Jazz Tuesday. The choice would be less surprising after Mazzulla expressed awe in his reserve players following Saturday night’s 117-107 win in Phoenix.
“They were amazing, they were tremendous,” Mazzulla told reporters after the win. “I thought Payton [Pritchard] changed the game with his defense. Him and Sam [Hauser] both are known for offensive guys, but I think it’s been their defense that really helped us this year. And Luke’s [Kornet] ability to play against a second unit and switching really gave us a great look, and when they went to touch he was able to set great screens.”
Indeed, the Celtics bench was a defensive force more than anything. Kornet, who had the daunting task of stepping in to replace Porzingis, posted a 102.6 defensive rating. Meanwhile Hauser and Pritchard’s speed and versatility helped the Celtics control the second half of Saturday’s game in Phoenix.
Regardless of the exact lineup, Monday night’s game will get the Celtics bench some much-needed minutes ahead of the postseason.
The Celtics play the Trail Blazers Monday at 7:30 p.m. PST at the Moda Center in Portland.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com