MEMPHIS -- The Celtics may be without two key rotation players when they face off against the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night. Boston added backup center Luke Kornet to the team’s injury report hours before tip due to illness. He joins Jaylen Brown (sore knee) as questionable for the contest. Boston will have Payton Pritchard (hip) and Al Horford (sore toe) in the lineup after both players missed Saturday’s win over the Spurs.
Kornet has been playing the best stretch of basketball in his pro career in March, posting 7.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while shooting 71 percent from the field. He’s coming off a double-double on Monday night in which he posted 15 points and a career-high 16 rebounds in a 121-111 Celtics win. Without him available, the Celtics could turn to Neemias Queta for some more minutes if the team elects to play some double big lineups with Horford and Kristaps Porzingis.
Brown has played in three games since returning from a knee injury but acknowledged last week that he’s dealing with a minutes restriction since his return. His shooting numbers have been solid since his return but he’s been showing less burst from an athleticism perspective so the team may elect to remain cautious with him.
Boston is playing for essentially nothing at this stage of the season as they are locked into the No. 2 seed already with an eight game lead over the Knicks. Despite putting together an eight-game winning streak over the past two weeks, the No. 1 seed is likely out of reach now for Boston with the Cavs still holding a 4.5 game lead after beating the Clippers on Sunday.
The Celtics and Grizzlies tip off at 7:30 p.m. Monday on TNT.
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