The Boston Celtics are bruised not just with the Ls but also with a brutal embarrassment! On Friday, they took on the table-toppers Cavaliers in a home game. After an opening flurry of a 25-3 run, Jayson Tatum & Co. were poised to take the win. Instead, Spida Mitchell’s men dominated the rest of the game. The early screams and celebrations went in vain, and the team is now on a two-game losing streak. Guess what? Now they face the thriving Denver Nuggets today!
Can they get off the losing streak? Do they have enough assets to take down Nikola Jokić and his men? Unfortunately, the Celts might miss out on three of their starters for the much-needed challenge. All this while, the Boston side had secured the second seed with a comfortable margin, but with the recent defeats and the NY Knicks‘ consistent surge, it’s not safe anymore.
So, it’s a must-win for the Celtics. However, the news from the center is that the team’s unicorn, Kristaps Porzingis, along with two other starters, may not lace up for today’s game. The 7’2 big man missed the Cavs’ game with a non-COVID-related illness and the team has again listed him on the injury report. This time, it’s under the Doubtful category.
Apart from him, Jrue Holiday, who also missed the last game with a finger injury, may miss the game as the team has listed him as doubtful. While two stars are more likely to play the game, the reigning Finals MVP, Jaylen Brown, has a high chance of missing the game, as the team has listed him in the Questionable category, citing right knee pain.
What do you think? Can the Celts pull off a miracle without the three stars? Let’s find out how the starting lineup and depth chart look after the injury report.
Kristaps Porzingis & Co. vs the Nuggets: Starting Lineup and Depth Chart
With three starters out of the lineup, the maximum pressure falls on Jayson Tatum. In the last game, JT put up 46 points with 16 rebounds and 9 assists. A true one-man show, but it wasn’t enough. He needed more support. Now that Jaylen Brown is less likely to lace up, Derrick White would have to step up on the offensive end. Moreover, Payton Pritchard, who has been showing glimpses of his balling, will have to break out to save the team from embarrassment.
The Boston Celtics
STARTING LINEUP
SECOND UNIT
THIRD UNIT
PG
Derrick White
JD Davison
–
SG
Payton Pritchard
Baylor Scheierman
–
SF
Sam Hauser
Jordan Walsh
–
PF
Jayson Tatum
Al-Horford
Drew Peterson
C
Luke Kornet
Neemias Quetta
Xavier Tillman
The Denver Nuggets
STARTING LINEUP
SECOND UNIT
THIRD UNIT
PG
Jamal Murray
Russell Westbrook
Jalen Pickett
SG
Christian Braun
Trey Alexander
–
SF
Michael Porter Jr.
Spencer Jones
–
PF
Julian Strawther
Hunter Tyson
–
C
Nikola Jokić
DeAndre Jordan
Dario Saric
Meanwhile, the Nuggets will play without one of their starter, Aaron Gordon, and a bunch of supporting units. So, the Celts have to target the non-Jokic minutes and put them in a dominating position. Who do you think will win? Let us know in the comments below.
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