The Celtics will be down two starters when they face the Rockets at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Houston. Jaylen Brown (hamstring, knee) and Sam Hauser (right thumb) are both out for the game. Anfernee Simons and Chris Boucher are both out for personal reasons, though that’s likely trade-related. Jayson Tatum (Achilles) also remains out.
The C’s beat the Mavericks on Tuesday, so they’ll be on the second game of a back-to-back Wednesday. Both Brown’s hamstring and knee issues aren’t new as he sat the win over the Kings last Friday. The All-Star starter has dealt with some injury issues throughout the season.
Between trades and injuries, the Celtics are set to be shorthanded Wednesday. Simons was traded for Bulls big man Nikola Vucevic on Tuesday, though that move isn’t official. That means the C’s will be without three rotation players in Houston between Brown, Hauser and Simons.
Payton Pritchard came off the bench in the Mavericks victory to split up his minutes with Derrick White more. With two starters unavailable, how the Celtics break up the minutes will be something to monitor for the Rockets game.
The many wings on the roster will be relied upon for more minutes regardless. Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez and potentially Josh Minott should see their role increased in Houston.
The Celtics 32-18 on the season, tied for second place in the East with the Knicks. The league is mainly focused on transactions ahead of the 3 p.m. Thursday trade deadline.