The Celtics are gearing up for a tough test on Saturday night against the Bulls, but they might be doing it without two key rotation pieces. Jaylen Brown and Neemias Queta are both listed as probable-Brown with lingering left hamstring tightness and Queta battling a non-COVID illness.
Brown has been managing that hamstring issue since the preseason, and while it flared up again this past week, it didn’t stop him from putting together a monster performance on Friday night. The All-Star guard delivered a 27-point, 12-assist, 10-rebound triple-double-his fifth career triple-double-in a gritty double-overtime win over the Nets.
After the game, Brown acknowledged that the tightness impacted his explosiveness, especially when trying to attack mismatches.
“I didn’t have my bursts today,” Brown said. “They were switching the five onto me with Claxton, and I should be able to just blow by him.
But I just didn’t have that acceleration tonight. Sometimes that can mess with your head a little bit, but I found other ways to be effective-trusted my teammates, rebounded the ball, things like that.”
That’s the kind of veteran presence Boston leans on in the grind of the regular season. Even when Brown’s not at full throttle, he finds ways to impact the game-and Friday night was a prime example.
But the Celtics are walking into Saturday’s matchup with some heavy legs. Friday’s double-overtime thriller demanded big minutes from several key contributors.
Brown logged 46 minutes, Payton Pritchard played 40, Sam Hauser added 39, and Anfernee Simons chipped in with 37. That’s a lot of mileage heading into the second night of a back-to-back.
As for Queta, he’s once again dealing with an illness that’s been circulating around the team. It was enough of a concern that Boston had two-way rookie Amari Williams hop a last-minute commercial flight from Portland, Maine, to New York City-just in case. Queta ultimately suited up, played 28 minutes, and fouled out after posting 6 points, 5 boards, and 3 assists.
Williams, meanwhile, made the most of his unexpected opportunity. He only played 5 minutes, but they were timely-especially in overtime, where he made a few hustle plays that helped seal Boston’s 130-126 win.
“Neemy wasn’t feeling great, so I flew in today,” Williams said postgame. “Just kind of being ready for whatever-you don’t really know.”
The Celtics are also still without Jayson Tatum (recovering from Achilles surgery) and Josh Minott (left ankle sprain), further testing the team’s depth.
When these two teams last met earlier this month, Anfernee Simons lit it up for 27 points and led the Celtics to a 115-101 win. Boston has since won two straight and six of its last 10, sitting at 28-16-second in the Eastern Conference standings.
The Bulls, meanwhile, are starting to find a little rhythm of their own. They’ve won three straight and five of their last 10, hovering at .500 with a 22-22 record and currently in the thick of the play-in race. They’ll be without Noa Essengue (shoulder surgery), Zach Collins (toe sprain), and Tre Jones (hamstring strain).
If Brown and Queta are limited or sidelined, Boston will need another all-hands-on-deck effort. With Tatum still out and the team coming off a taxing win, expect head coach Joe Mazzulla to lean on his bench again-especially if fatigue starts to show. It’s the kind of game that can test a contender’s depth, and the Celtics have shown they’re ready to answer that call.