The Celtics might be down one reserve wing choice after they host the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night time.
Boston dominated out Josh Minott (left ankle sprain) for the matchup at TD Backyard.
Minott began 9 consecutive video games early this season and was a staple in head coach Joe Mazzulla’s rotation from mid-November by way of mid-December, typically enjoying as an undersized middle within the Celtics’ smaller, extra athletic secondary lineups. He’s on tempo for profession highs in factors (6.3) and rebounds per sport (4.0) and is taking pictures 43.8% from 3-point vary.
However the latest reemergence of backup middle Luka Garza, who’s posted robust numbers since reentering the rotation on Dec. 20, nudged Mazzulla away from small-ball lineups and pushed Minott to the top of the bench. The 23-year-old has logged simply three garbage-time minutes over Boston’s final six video games, sitting behind Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez and Baylor Scheierman on the wing depth chart.
The one different Celtics participant listed on the group’s newest harm report was Jayson Tatum (out; Achilles), who has but to go well with up this season.
Denver’s was far lengthier, and headlined by one of many NBA’s finest gamers, three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who is predicted to overlook the subsequent a number of weeks with a knee harm. Jokic’s backup, veteran middle Jonas Valanciunas, additionally won’t play in opposition to Boston as he recovers from a calf pressure, nor will ahead Cameron Johnson (knee).
Jokic is main the NBA in rebounds (12.2 per sport) and assists (11.0) this season whereas averaging 29.6 factors on 60.5% taking pictures.
Starters Jamal Murray (ankle), Aaron Gordon (hamstring) and Christian Braun (ankle) and reserve Tim Hardaway Jr. (sickness) all are listed as questionable after sitting out Monday’s sport in opposition to the Philadelphia 76ers. Taking part in with out these seven gamers, the Nuggets received 125-124 in time beyond regulation.
The Celtics, house owners of the NBA’s third-best internet ranking as of Tuesday, moved into second place within the Jap Convention by beating the Chicago Bulls 115-101 on Monday night time. Denver ranks third within the West and boasts the league’s fifth-best internet ranking.
