Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics, Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchard
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Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla talks with reporters during Boston Celtics media day at the Auerbach Center on September 29, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts.
The Boston Celtics head to Miami on Thursday night carrying a two-game losing streak.
The timing is less than ideal. Boston has not lost three straight since the season’s opening week, when the Celtics stumbled out of the gates at 0-3 before finding their footing.
Another loss would mark their first extended skid of the year, and it would come against a Miami Heat team that has consistently caused problems regardless of seeding or circumstance.
But the injury report offered some clarity ahead of tip-off.
Celtics Get Key Players Back for Miami
Jaylen Brown and Sam Hauser are both off the injury report.
Brown had been dealing with low back spasms. Hauser had been managing hamstring tightness. Neither absence was expected to be lengthy, but their availability against Miami removes any question about Boston’s offensive depth.
Brown is having the best season of his career, and continues to anchor the Celtics through Jayson Tatum‘s extended recovery.
Hauser’s return stabilizes Boston’s spacing. His shooting keeps defenses honest and opens driving lanes for others. Against a Heat team that thrives on forcing contested twos, that spacing becomes even more critical.
Josh Minott remains out with a left ankle sprain. Tatum, as expected, remains sidelined as his rehab continues.
Miami’s Injury Report Leaves More Questions Than Answers
The Heat, meanwhile, are dealing with uncertainty across multiple positions.
Tyler Herro is listed as probable with a toe contusion. Nikola Jovic is probable with right knee soreness. Jaime Jaquez Jr. is questionable with left knee soreness. Davion Mitchell is doubtful with a left shoulder contusion.
Herro has appeared in just 10 games this season due to injury but has been Miami’s second-leading scorer when available, averaging 21.9 points per game. His presence changes how defenses approach the Heat’s pick-and-roll game and opens up looks for others.
Miami has won six of its last 10 games and sits ninth in the Eastern Conference at 21-19.
Why This Matchup Still Matters for the Celtics
Boston enters Thursday at 24-15, third in the Eastern Conference and playing some of its most complete basketball of the season.
The two-game skid has not erased what came before it. Brown has been spectacular. The supporting cast has stepped into expanded roles without hesitation. The Celtics have exceeded expectations while managing Tatum’s absence.
But the losses have reinforced a pattern that extends beyond the last two nights. Boston is 8-12 in clutch situations this season, struggles that stem largely from defensive rebounding breakdowns and the absence of Tatum’s late-game creation. In games decided by five points or fewer in the final five minutes, the Celtics have been unable to close consistently.
Miami presents a specific challenge.
Erik Spoelstra‘s teams do not allow comfort. They force adjustments. They exploit hesitation. Even with key players potentially sidelined, the Heat will make Boston work for everything.
Final Word for the Celtics
The injury news favors Boston heading into Miami.
Jaylen Brown and Sam Hauser return at a time when depth matters most. The Heat, meanwhile, face uncertainty across their rotation. That does not guarantee a Celtics win, but it does clarify the opportunity.
Boston has not lost three straight since opening week. Thursday night offers a chance to keep it that way.