The Boston Celtics will be missing their entire frontcourt when they travel to Cleveland to take on the Cavaliers on Monday, March 6. Jayson Tatum (left knee contusion), Al Horford (low back stiffness), and Robert Williams III (right hamstring soreness) are all on the C’s injury report along with Danilo Gallinari, who has been out all season following a torn ACL during FIBA play last August.
#NEBHInjuryReport vs. Cleveland:
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 6, 2023
Danilo Gallinari (left knee ACL repair) - OUT
Al Horford (low back stiffness) - OUT
Jayson Tatum (left knee contusion) - OUT
Robert Williams (left hamstring strain) - OUT
The injuries for Tatum and Horford are code for “rest,” which is no longer an allowed reason to sit out in the NBA. Tatum played a game-high 49 minutes on March 5 during the team’s 2OT loss to the Knicks, 131-129, while Horford played 46 minutes — a significant workload for a 36-year-old big man.
Updated Boston Celtics starting lineup vs Cavaliers for March 6
With a depleted roster, Joe Mazzulla will likely be giving big minutes to Malcolm Brogdon, who missed Sunday’s matchup against New York and the team’s shocking loss to the Nets on Friday night. Brogdon will likely resume his sixth man role, though.
The starting five is likely to include Marcus Smart, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Grant Williams, and, like he has gotten 12 times this season when the top of the frontcourt is missing, Blake Griffin. In addition to Griffin getting minutes for the first time in March, Luke Kornet and Mike Muscala could get minutes at the 5. Sam Hauser will continue to pick up a bulk of the backup minutes on the wing.
Payton Pritchard relegated to garbage time minutes
Unless an injury pops up to Smart, Brogdon, and/or White, it appears Payton Pritchard will be glued to the bench for the rest of the 2022-23 season.
Pritchard has said that he hoped for a deadline trade, so it appears likely he’ll get one in the offseason.