Celtics vs Wizards Preview: Injuries will test Boston

Battered Celtics to take on struggling Wizards

The Boston Celtics (46-21) will look to take on Bradley Beal and the Washington Wizards (38-30) in a battle that will surely test Brad Stevens and company.

The Celtics, who may only enter the contest with 10 available players, including five rookies, will be tested in every way imaginable without some of their best players. Guys like Greg Monroe and Terry Rozier will likely be thrown into the starting lineup and Boston will need a big game from Marcus Morris to stay afloat and earn a tough win at the Garden.

Some of the most troubling news to come out of the Celtics camp is the sudden injuries sustained by Marcus Smart and Kyrie Irving.

According to Multiple sources, Smart suffered a torn tendon in his right thumb in the Celtics’ loss to the Pacers on Sunday. Smart and the Celtics have reached out for a second opinion, but if the diagnosis stands as initially called it will most likely end in surgery as well as the end of Smart’s season.

For Irving, knee soreness is the initial report. This is particularly significant due to the fact that there were reports that Irving had been dealing with knee issues since his Cleveland days.

Brad Stevens and Danny Ainge both commented on Irving’s knee issues and how the team plans to deal with them, according to Chris Forsberg other sources.

"“If he doesn’t feel 100 percent, then we need to have him sit, and so I think that that is something that we’ve all talked about, and [that’s] why he didn’t come back in [against Indiana],” Stevens said.“I don’t think it’s anything serious, but we want Kyrie healthy and fresh,” Ainge told the “Toucher and Rich” program. “He carries a heavy burden, the offensive load that he carries, so we’re OK with him missing some games. We feel like we have a deep roster, and we need him to be healthy and fresh.”"

The team will be stripped pretty thin moving forward, especially with Al Horford dealing with a recent sickness that will have kept him out of the last two contests.

Washington Wizards still dealing with Wall’s Absence

For the Wizards, John Wall‘s absence has been particularly troublesome, especially due to the fact that the Wizards have dropped five of their last seven games, one of those wins coming against a Pelicans team that was missing Anthony Davis.

Beal has shown tremendous growth this year, going from a spot-up shooter who could score in bunches to a playmaking guard who will do wonders for the Wizards once John Wall returns.

Head coach Scott Brooks also commented on Wall’s rehab as well as putting his team in the best possible position.

"“He’s moving in the right direction. He looked good today, with his shooting and his ball-handling and his work that he does on his own,” Brooks said before the Wizards hosted the Minnesota Timberwolves. “I don’t know how many games he will play. We’re just going to wait until we know that he’s ready to play. We’re not desperate. It would be great to have him. I’d love to have him tonight. But that’s not happening. We’re not going to put ourselves in any position that we have to (use) him. We just want to make sure that he’s ready to play.”"

Prediction: The Celtics are likely without three of their top five scorers in this contest, and it will be tough for anyone to match Kyrie Irving’s production. Jayson Tatum, if he plays, will be a key cog in this game against Washington.

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Terry Rozier and Greg Monroe will have to also put up some big numbers, but the edge goes to the Wizards in this one.