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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 19: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the first half of the game against the Golden State Warriors at TD Garden on January 19, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics travel to Charlotte to take on the Hornets in a Sunday night conference tilt.
Boston is coming off an impressive home victory over the surging Atlanta Hawks, who entered TD Garden winners of 13 of their last 14 games.
Even more notably, the Celtics beat the Hawks without NBA MVP candidateJaylen Brown, who is battling left Achilles tendinitis.
The schedule has yet to get easier.
Now Boston will play a streaking Charlotte team that is 11-4 in their last 15 home games. Especially if the C’s aren’t at full strength for this contest, it’ll be extremely tough coming out with the win.
Boston Celtics unload extensive injury report for Sunday
The race to the finish line is here. A long 82-game season is officially hanging in the balance.
The Celtics have been passing the tests as of late, winning their last two over of a pair of teams — the Hawks and Oklahoma City Thunder — that combined for over 30 wins since mid-February. Brown even held his own against soon-to-be two-time league MVPShai Gilgeous-Alexander in Wednesday’s win.
However, Boston has been dealing with some notable injuries.
Ahead of tomorrow night’s critical game in Charlotte, the Celtics have listed four big names on the injury report.
Jaylen Brown: questionable (left Achilles tendinitis)
Neemias Queta: questionable (right thumb sprain)
Jayson Tatum: questionable (right Achilles repair management)
Nikola Vucevic: out (right ring finger fracture)
Derrick White: questionable (right knee contusion)
Celtics hoping to avoid bad injury luck to close the season
As they say: if you limp into the postseason, you’ll limp out of it.
Minus the one to Tatum, Boston has seen relatively minimal injuries to its key players all year. They’ve had it well on that front. But things have been somewhat spiraling as of late.
In the win/loss column, the Celtics have arguably overachieved all season. It is rare a team sustains winning after losing an All-NBA player and perennial MVP candidate. On another note, Tatum has looked quite strong ever since returning from injury earlier this month.
GettyBOSTON, MA – MARCH 22: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
Brown’s injury sounds scary, but it is deemed minor for now.
Tatum will be on the injury report every few games as a precaution. He is still working his way back into the flow of things after 10 long months off.
Vucevic has a fracture and will need time to progress. He should be available and fully healthy before the start of the playoffs. Good news there.
White has battled minor knee trouble as of late. That is something to monitor over the final few weeks of the regular season.
The Celtics have just nine games left on the 82-game slate. The priority is overall health, managing Tatum’s progress and sustaining momentum in the Eastern Conference.