Celtics Damage Report: 3 players removed for Thursday’s match against Lakers

Los Angeles – Celtics will have plenty of extra firepower Thursday night as they seem to improve to 3-0 on their road trip towards Los Angeles Lakers. The team removed all three players from their injury report on Thursday afternoon after all Horford (toe), Kristaps Porzingis (Ben) and Jue Holiday (shoulder) all missed Wednesday’s overtime victory over Clippers. Jaylen Brown is also not on the injury report after revealing that he rolled his ankle on Wednesday night.

The move to rest Porzingis, Horford and Holiday were probably strategic by Boston after La Clippers chose to sit six rotation players in the midst of a brutal stretch of their schedule. Celtics still had to fight hard against an understaffed Clippers team on Wednesday, but drew a dramatic overtime victory with some unlikely contributions.

Boston’s stars played heavy minutes in the victory, so fresh legs from Porzingis, Horford and Holiday are likely to be a welcome addition to Mazzulla as Boston seems to win three games in a row for the first time since January 3rd.

On the other hand, Laker’s five players have listed on their injury report, including the stars LeBron James (left foot) and Anthony Davis (right leg). Both of these veterans are expected to play after being listed as likely. Jalen Hood-Schifino (Hamstring), Jarred Vanderbilt (right foot operation) and Christian Wood (operated left knee) are all out.

Thursday’s competition will be the first match for Boston against Lakers with JJ Redick at the helm as coach. The team is 23-18 on the season under their rookie coach, who had been recruited by Joe Mazzulla to be an assistant coach two years ago in Boston.

Celtics and Lakers will tip at 22:00 one in a national TV broadcast tilt on TNT on Thursday night.

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