The Celtics will have Jayson Tatum back in the lineup on Saturday night but they could be without a pair of key reserves for their matchup against the San Antonio Spurs. Boston amended their injury report late Friday, adding Al Horford (sore toe) to their injury report for the road matchup as questionable. The team had already included Payton Pritchard (sore hip) and Xavier Tillman (sore knee) as questionable for the road tilt.
Horford has rested during all of his back-to-backs this season but Saturday’s matchup could be a good opportunity to give the 38-year-old a longer break. He has played 56 games in the regular season but is averaging more minutes per game (27.5) than last season due to Boston’s injuries and his superb play.
Pritchard is due for a rest as well having only missed one game this year coming off playing all 82 last season. He’s averaging a career-high 14.2 points per game, becoming the surprise frontrunner for 6th Man of the Year award.
Boston can certainly afford to give both players the night off if needed against a Spurs squad that is extremely shorthanded on star power. De’Aaron Fox (hand) and Victor Wembanyama (shoulder) are out for the remainder of the season, which has led to the Spurs falling out of the playoff race in the Western Conference.
The Celtics are safely locked into the No. 2 seed but they suddenly closing the gap with the Cleveland Cavaliers amid a six-game winning streak. Boston is still unlikely to catch the Cavs, trailing by 4.5 games with eight games to play but they could potentially make things interesting by winning out.
The Celtics will give an update on the status of Pritchard and Horford later Saturday evening ahead of a 8 p.m. tip in San Antonio.
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