The Celtics may have to answer a tough question Wednesday night before they ever tip off against the Bucks: can they handle Milwaukee without Jayson Tatum?
Boston listed Tatum as questionable for the game because of rest on its Tuesday injury report. Payton Pritchard is also questionable with a right shoulder contusion, while Devin Carter has been ruled out because of illness.
That creates a tricky setup for a Celtics team trying to shake off Monday’s 109-93 loss to the Houston Rockets after winning five straight. Tatum has been the engine of Boston’s offense early in the season, and the possibility of sitting him comes at a time when the Celtics are still trying to balance short-term wins with keeping veteran players fresh.
Tatum has played in every game so far, averaging 27 points, 7.9 assists and six rebounds through seven contests after coming back from the Achilles injury that interrupted his previous season.
Pritchard’s status matters too. He has been giving Boston 13.4 points and 3.4 assists a night, and his ballhandling and outside shooting become even more valuable if Tatum is unavailable. If either player sits, Boston could lean more heavily on Derrick White, Sam Hauser, Baylor Scheierman or other rotation pieces.
There is at least some good news on the availability front. Paul George and Mitchell Robinson are not on the injury report after dealing with questions during the previous road trip.
Milwaukee, meanwhile, comes in at 1-6 and has dropped three in a row. The Bucks’ season has already been reshaped by the departure of Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami, and Tyler Herro has stepped in as the team’s top scorer at 21.9 points per game. Jaime Jaquez Jr. has also given them another offensive threat.
Defensively, though, the Bucks have been leaking points at a huge clip, allowing 124.1 per game through seven outings. That gives Boston a chance to find its rhythm again, even if the Celtics are not at full strength.
At 5-2, Boston is still in solid shape, but Monday’s loss showed how much the offense can bog down when too much falls on too few shoulders. Wednesday night could be a useful early-season look at the Celtics’ depth, especially if Tatum and Pritchard both end up on the sidelines.
Boston does not have to force either player back just to win one game in November. But if both are out, it turns into a real test for Joe Mazzulla’s group.
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