Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics
Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images
Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics return to TD Garden on Monday night to face the Portland Trail Blazers.
The game marks the start of a four-game home stand at TD Garden. Boston split two games on the road this weekend, surviving a double overtime thriller in Brooklyn on Friday before losing to the Chicago Bulls on a last-second three Saturday night.
Monday’s injury report clarified who will be available when the Blazers visit.
Celtics Starter Listed On Injury Report
Neemias Queta appears on the injury report with an illness.
He carries a questionable designation despite playing through the sickness all weekend. The back-to-back took its toll, and the illness has not improved.
Queta has thrived as a starter for Boston this season, providing rim protection and interior presence. His absence would force Joe Mazzulla to lean more heavily on Amari Williams, who made his first career start Saturday and played well in limited minutes.
Josh Minott has been upgraded to questionable after missing nine consecutive games with a left ankle sprain. Minott has not played since January 3rd. His return would add depth to a frontcourt rotation that has been stretched thin during this tough stretch.
Jaylen Brown is off the injury report entirely after dealing with hamstring tightness earlier in the week. Jayson Tatum remains out.
Injury Report for tomorrow vs. POR:
Josh Minott – Left Ankle Sprain – QUESTIONABLENeemias Queta – Illness (Non-Covid) – QUESTIONABLEJayson Tatum – Right Achilles Repair – OUT
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 25, 2026
Portland Brings Lengthy Injury Report
The Trail Blazers will be without six players Monday night.
Damian Lillard,Scoot Henderson, Kris Murray, Matisse Thybulle, Blake Wesley, and Duop Reath are all out for the game.
Portland also lists two players as questionable. Deni Avdija is dealing with a lower back strain. Former Celtic Robert Williams is questionable with left knee injury management. Williams has not faced his former team since being traded to Portland three years ago.
Former Celtic Jrue Holiday will make his return to TD Garden on Monday. Holiday appeared in just 18 games this season before being traded to Portland in the offseason. He averages 15.4 points and 7.1 assists per game for the Blazers.
What The Season Series Shows
Monday closes out the season series between the two teams.
The Blazers won the first meeting in late December by six points. Boston has struggled with Portland in recent seasons, and Monday represents a chance to even the series before the calendar turns.
Portland sits 23-23 and holds the ninth-best record in the Western Conference. The Blazers have won seven of their last ten games and are playing competitive basketball despite the lengthy injury report.
Boston enters Monday 28-17 with the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics sit 5.5 games behind Detroit for the top seed.
Jaylen Brown continues carrying the offense without Tatum. He averages 29.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game and will start in his first All-Star Game next month.
Jaylen Brown over his last five games:
⚡️ 33 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK⚡️ 27 PTS, 10 REB, 12 AST, 1 STL⚡️ 30 PTS, 10 REB, 5 AST, 3 STL⚡️ 32 PTS, 11 REB, 2 AST, 1 BLK⚡️ 41 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK pic.twitter.com/orhjLU75bM
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 25, 2026
Final Word for the Celtics
Boston needs Queta healthy for the homestand ahead. The stretch at TD Garden offers a chance to build some separation in the standings. Losing him to illness would complicate that goal.
Minott’s potential return adds another layer. The Celtics could use the depth up front, especially if Queta cannot play. Williams has showed promised in his minutes thus far.
Monday offers a chance to bounce back against a Portland team that has already beaten Boston once this season. The Blazers are shorthanded but still competitive.
Holiday’s return to TD Garden adds another storyline to what should be a winnable game for the Celtics.