The Celtics’ streak of poor harm luck continued Wednesday night time.
Jrue Vacation (mallet finger), Kristaps Porzingis (sickness) and Jayson Tatum (proper shoulder impingement) all had been dominated out for Boston’s matchup with the Portland Path Blazers at TD Backyard, leaving Joe Mazzulla’s squad with out three-fifths of its beginning lineup.
Vacation and Porzingis had been listed as uncertain after sitting out the earlier two video games. Mazzulla stated each had been in a position to take part in Tuesday’s follow, however neither was cleared to play in opposition to Portland.
Tatum was listed as questionable, as was Celtics co-star Jaylen Brown (sickness). Brown, Derrick White (possible; low again contusion) and Payton Pritchard (possible; left hip flexor tightness) had been upgraded to out there earlier than tipoff.
Boston’s beginning 5 in opposition to the visiting Blazers featured White, Brown, Sam Hauser, Al Horford and Luke Kornet, with Pritchard occupying his ordinary position as one of many Celtics’ high bench choices.
It was the primary DNP since Dec. 23 for Tatum, who has been one of many NBA’s most sturdy gamers this season. The six-time All-Star has appeared in all however 4 of the Celtics’ 62 video games, rating third on the crew in appearances behind Pritchard (61, together with Wednesday’s) and White (59).
Tatum entered Wednesday ranked fifth within the NBA in complete minutes performed — trailing solely New York’s Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson and Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards — and first amongst Celtics gamers in factors, rebounds and assists per sport.
Vacation’s availability has been extra sporadic. The 34-year-old guard has missed 15 video games, together with eight of the final 11 with knee and finger illnesses. He’s worn a splint on his proper pinky since struggling his mallet finger harm throughout a loss to Detroit final Wednesday.
“(It’s) clearly slightly irritating,” Vacation stated Sunday. “Would like to be as wholesome as doable, however issues occur.”
Porzingis’ lingering sickness has sidelined him for 4 of the Celtics’ final 5 video games. The beginning heart missed prolonged time with decrease leg points early within the season however has remained principally injury-free because the begin of January.
Boston is more likely to be shorthanded Thursday night time, as nicely, when it hosts the Philadelphia 76ers within the second finish of a back-to-back (and the center sport in a three-in-four-nights stretch). Mazzulla stated he doesn’t view these video games as a possibility to be taught extra in regards to the again half of his bench — which now contains newcomer Miles Norris, who signed earlier this week on a two-way contract — however reasonably an opportunity for these deeper reserves to show they’ll keep the Celtics’ customary whereas the crew’s greater names are unavailable.
“I don’t should be taught that. I already know what they’re in a position to do,” the pinnacle coach stated Wednesday in his pregame information convention. “They’ve completed it. It’s only a matter of continuous to do this. And I feel it breeds a way of possession to the blokes as a result of on the finish of the day, no matter who’s in, who’s out, we’ve the expectation to win. Whether or not they play each night time or not, we maintain them to a excessive customary, and so they take that on. So, it’s not about studying. It’s about no matter who’s in, who’s out, we’ve obtained to play Celtics basketball. We’ve obtained to provide ourselves the most effective probability to win. Us and the employees have full religion in whoever’s on the market that we’ve an opportunity to do this, so I’d say that’s most essential.”
The Path Blazers sit outdoors the playoff image within the aggressive Western Convention, however they carried a 15-6 file over their final 21 video games into their lone go to to TD Backyard this season.
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