BOSTON — The Celtics will be without two starters on Monday night as they face off against the Utah Jazz at TD Garden. The team downgraded Jayson Tatum (knee) from questionable to out before tip. Al Horford (toe) was also downgraded while Kristaps Porzingis will remain out for the sixth consecutive game due to illness.
Tatum played a season-high 45 minutes for a regulation game in Boston’s win over the Lakers on Saturday night and Al Horford (37 minutes) also carried a heavy minutes burden in a terrific performance for the duo. After Boston’s fourth straight win, Tatum indicated that some rest could be on the horizon for him.
“We’re always in constant communication with each other,” Tatum said Saturday about his talks with Joe Mazzulla about his workload. “Probably not going to play every game rest of the season, but kind of building up your stamina going into the playoffs, knowing that certain nights you might play 45, 44 minutes. So just kind of getting your body ready for that.”
Tatum has played in 60 of Boston’s 64 games this season with the Celtics going 3-1 in his absence including a victory over the Blazers last Wednesday.
The next update on all three players will come on Tuesday ahead of the team’s showdown with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night at TD Garden.
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