The Boston Celtics have completed three games of their four-game road trip. They picked up a close win over the Minnesota Timberwolves before dominating the Houston Rockets. However, they fell to the red-hot Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday afternoon. Now, they face a tough contest against the Denver Nuggets.
Last season, the Nuggets beat Boston both times the two sides squared off, but both were very tight games. This year, the Nuggets have gone through some struggles, as have the Celtics. But both teams will undoubtedly be looking to take this matchup seriously, as they are the last two NBA Champions.
Here are the injury reports for the Celtics’ game against the Nuggets on Tuesday, January 7.
Celtics injury report vs. Nuggets on Tuesday, January 7
- Jordan Walsh OUT (non-covid illness)
- Derrick White OUT (non-covid illness)
Nuggets injury report vs. Celtics on Tuesday, January 7
- Nikola Jokic OUT (non-covid illness)
- Aaron Gordon OUT (calf)
- DaRon Holmes OUT (Achilles)
- Vlatko Cancar OUT (knee)
- Spencer Jones OUT (thigh)
For one of the first times this season, the Celtics were set to walk into a game with a completely clean injury report. They haven’t dealt with a ton of major injury issues (outside of Kristaps Porzingis), but little nicks and bruises have kept guys out throughout the year.
Unfortunately, just hours before tip-off, two players were added to the report.
Both Derrick White and Jordan Walsh are questionable to play due to illnesses, though there is no indication that they are dealing with the same ailment.
In addition, Jaylen Brown is likely still dealing with a shoulder issue, though he's not listed on the injury report. He spoke about it after the Celtics’ loss in Oklahoma City.
“I think it was like on the play I was trying to like fire it out, my arm kind of got jammed,” Brown said via Souichi Terada of MassLive. “I went and got an MRI, came back, and had a shoulder strain. I’ve just been doing my treatment and stuff, trying to get back, ready to be on the court.”
“It felt good today, a little sticky, but felt good. This week, just been going through my progressions and definitely wanted to be available for tonight, so it felt good.”
As for the Nuggets, they aren’t so lucky. Nikola Jokic was a late scratch due to an illness. Aaron Gordon will not play against the Celtics due to a calf issue. Vlatko Cancar will also miss the game due to a knee injury.
Rookie DaRon Holmes has been out all season after tearing his Achilles in Summer League, and fellow first-year Spencer Jones will be out vs. Boston with a thigh issue.
Projected starting lineups for Celtics vs. Nuggets
This is likely what the Celtics will roll with (depending on injuries):
- Derrick White
- Jrue Holiday
- Jaylen Brown
- Jayson Tatum
- Kristaps Porzingis
Here is what the Thunder’s first five could look like:
- Jamal Murray
- Christian Braun
- Michael Porter Jr.
- Peyton Watson
- Nikola Jokic