The Boston Celtics return to TD Garden Friday night looking to stop a two-game slide that’s dropped them to fourth in the Eastern Conference standings. With the East as tight as it’s been all season, there’s no room for error-just one game separates Boston from the ninth-seeded Atlanta Hawks. Every win matters right now, and the Celtics know it.
Fortunately for Boston, they’re getting a bit healthier at just the right time. Sam Hauser and Josh Minott have both been cleared to play against the Miami Heat, adding some much-needed depth as the team looks to regain its footing.
Hauser, who went down with a left ankle sprain in Monday’s loss to the Pistons, had an early exit after rolling it in the first half. He didn’t return, and there was understandable concern about how long he'd be out.
But just two days later, he was back on the court at the Auerbach Center, getting shots up after practice-a positive sign that turned into official good news when the Celtics upgraded him from probable to available. His shooting and spacing will be key against a Heat defense that thrives on clogging the lane.
Minott, meanwhile, had been nursing a low back spasm. It’s not hard to imagine the wear and tear catching up with him, especially considering how often he’s been asked to play as a small-ball five.
But like Hauser, he was listed as probable heading into the matchup and has now been cleared to go. His energy and versatility give Boston another tool in what promises to be a physical, grind-it-out type of game.
The only Celtic still on the injury report is Jayson Tatum. Earlier this week, team president Brad Stevens gave an update on the six-time All-Star’s recovery and where the organization stands on the possibility of his return later this season. For now, Boston will have to keep pushing forward without their franchise cornerstone.
As for the visiting Heat, they’re coming in on the second night of a back-to-back after beating the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, 106-95. But Miami might be without one of its key weapons.
Tyler Herro, who’s been battling a lingering toe injury, missed the win over Brooklyn and remains questionable for Friday’s game in Boston. Herro had surgery on his left foot before the season and has only suited up for six of Miami’s 27 games.
He’s been trying to play through the pain, even taking a Toradol injection to get on the floor against Orlando last week. But the inflammation hasn’t gone away, and after undergoing a second MRI in less than two weeks, his status remains uncertain.
The Heat haven’t issued an official update yet, but if Herro can’t go, that’s a significant blow to Miami’s offensive firepower-especially against a Celtics team that’s tough to beat at home.
With both teams jockeying for position in a crowded Eastern Conference race, and with key rotation players returning to the floor, Friday night’s matchup has all the makings of a statement game. For the Celtics, it’s a chance to stop the bleeding and reassert themselves as one of the East’s elite. For the Heat, it’s about proving they can hang with the conference’s best, even if they’re not at full strength.