Josh Minott will miss the Celtics’ game against the Nuggets on Wednesday at TD Garden. He was downgraded to out due to a left ankle sprain, which is a new injury. Jayson Tatum also remains out due to his Achilles rehab.
Minott, 23, was an early bright spot for the Celtics, starting 10 games on the year. However, he’s fallen out of the rotation in recent nights. He’s only played once in the last six games, which was three minutes in the blowout Clippers victory. Minott is averaging 6.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in 29 games this season.
Minott was signed as a free agent from the Timberwolves this past summer. He started the year as a high-energy wing, showcasing great athleticism in his minutes. Minott’s role transitioned to being a small-ball center for stretches even though he lost his starting spot. However, with the re-emergence of Luka Garza at backup center, Minott’s role has diminished over the past few weeks.
The Celtics have shuffled around their rotation over the course of the season. Sam Hauser has started the past two games, which comes after Jordan Walsh was a consistent starter for weeks. Hugo Gonzalez and Baylor Scheierman have also had their moments throughout the year.
In the meantime, the C’s just keep winning games. They beat the Bulls on Monday, their eighth win in the last nine games. They’re 23-12, good for second in the East. The Celtics have exceeded expectations nearing the midway point of the season.