The Celtics are once again facing a substantial injury report as they prepare to play the Pistons in Detroit on Friday at 7 p.m. Jrue Holiday is already sidelined due to a right AC joint sprain. Four other key players are listed as questionable: Jayson Tatum with a right ankle impingement, Jaylen Brown managing a right ankle issue, Al Horford dealing with a left big toe sprain, and Kristaps Porzingis managing a right hamstring concern. On a positive note, Sam Hauser, who recently suffered a left ankle sprain, has been upgraded to probable.
The Celtics’ injury situation is not unexpected, especially considering their upcoming back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday against the Pistons and the Bulls in Chicago. The team might choose to manage Horford and Porzingis carefully between these games. Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman have been performing well in the rotation as big men.
Tatum and Brown are likely being rested strategically, and they might have their minutes managed to avoid excessive strain. Holiday will miss his second consecutive game due to the AC joint sprain.
Hauser sustained his ankle sprain during the recent win against the Wizards, where he was playing exceptionally well, scoring a career-high 30 points with 10 made 3-pointers. However, the injury isn’t severe, and he is expected to miss only two games if he returns on Saturday.
The Celtics, with a record of 55-14, are in a strong position after defeating the second-place Bucks. They have an 11-game lead with just 13 games remaining in the season, putting them on the verge of securing home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs. Earlier this week, they defeated the Pistons in Boston.
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