The Boston Celtics will return home on Monday night following their four-game road trip. They went 3-1, with their most recent victory coming in an NBA Finals matchup against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday. However, their stint against Western Conference teams is not over quite yet, as they will take on the Houston Rockets on Monday.
The two sides played earlier this month during the Celtics’ first four-game trip against the West. Boston picked up a big win over Ime Udoka’s squad, so they will undoubtedly be looking for revenge, especially considering how hard they are battling to stay toward the top of the Western Conference standings.
Here is the Celtics injury report for their game against the Rockets on Monday, January 27.
Celtics injury report vs. Rockets on Monday, January 27
- Derrick White OUT (right shin contusion)
- Al Horford AVAILABLE (left big toe sprain)
- Sam Hauser OUT (right hip impingement)
- Anton Watson OUT (G League)
- Drew Peterson OUT (G League)
- JD Davison OUT (G League)
Rockets injury report vs. Celtics on Monday, January 27
- Jabari Smith Jr. OUT (fractured left hand)
- Cam Whitmore OUT (illness)
Celtics injury report details vs. Rockets
In their last game against the Mavs, the Celtics were fully healthy. Unfortunately for them, they may not get the same luck this time around.
Derrick White was questionable to play for the second game in a row. However, heading into Monday night, his injury designation has changed.
Prior to Boston’s game in Dallas, White was listed as questionable due to left knee soreness. But leading into Monday against the Rockets, White is dealing with a right shin contusion. White has since been downgraded to out.
Al Horford joined White on the Celtics injury report ahead of Monday’s contest. He’s listed as questionable due to a left big toe sprain. That’s been his common designation for the better part of the last few years (and usually means the Celtics are considering resting him). However, Horford has been upgraded to available.
Sam Hauser was also been added to the injury report. He's questionable to play with a right hip impingement. He's since been downgraded to out.
All three of Boston’s two-way players—Anton Watson, Drew Peterson, and JD Davison—will all be out as well. They are on assignment in the G League with the Maine Celtics.
Meanwhile, on the Rockets' side of things, only a couple of players from their regular rotation are on the injury report.
Jabari Smith Jr. fractured his left hand at the beginning of January and is still out. That said, he’s not going to have surgery on the injury, and his re-evaluation timeline was set at 4-8 weeks when the issue occurred.
On top of that, Cam Whitmore was questionable to play due to an illness. He's since been downgraded to out.
N’Faly Dante and Jack McVeigh are both out as well, as they will be with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the G League.
Projected starting lineups for Celtics vs. Rockets
This is likely what the Celtics will roll with:
- Derrick White
- Jrue Holiday
- Jaylen Brown
- Jayson Tatum
- Kristaps Porzingis
Here is what the Rockets’ first five could look like:
- Fred VanVleet
- Jalen Green
- Dillon Brooks
- Amen Thompson
- Alperen Sengun