After losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a potential NBA Finals preview on Wednesday, the Boston Celtics will travel down south and take on the Miami Heat on Friday. This will be the third time the Celtics go head-to-head against Miami this season, but it will be the first time since the Heat traded Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors.
The Celtics won both matchups against the Heat earlier this season and will look to win another one. However, the team announced a new injury update that could have a negative impact on the game against one of their biggest rivals.
Derrick White has been essential to the Celtics' success this year and played a big role in the team's championship victory last season. Unfortunately, the Celtics have listed him as questionable against the Heat due to a left knee contusion.
Injury Report at MIA:
Jaylen Brown (right knee posterior impingement) - QUESTIONABLE
Al Horford (left big toe sprain) - PROBABLE
Kristaps Porzingis (illness, non-Covid) - QUESTIONABLE
Jayson Tatum (right knee tendinopathy) - QUESTIONABLE
Derrick White (left knee contusion) -…
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 13, 2025
White has only missed three games for the Celtics all season long. The Celtics are 1-2 in those games. If he also misses Friday's game against Miami, it will be a tough obstacle for the Celtics to overcome.
With the end of the season getting closer, it is also possible that the Celtics are playing it as safely as they possibly can. As the reigning champions, there will be a lot of pressure on them to become the first team in the NBA to repeat as champions since the 2017-18 Warriors, and they will want to be as healthy as they can be.
If White sits out against Miami, his next opportunity to play would be on Saturday when the Celtics stay on the road and take on the Brooklyn Nets.
Related: Celtics Make Kristaps Porzingis Announcement After Seven Straight Missed Games
Related: Unfortunate Injury News Announced After Wizards-Raptors Game
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This story was originally published March 13, 2025 at 5:15 PM.