The Boston Celtics are two games into their four-game road trip against some of the best teams in the Western Conference. In their first game, they squeaked out a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, and in the second, they laid a beatdown on the Houston Rockets. Needless to say, they are off to a great start. But now, they have a date with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Meanwhile, the Thunder are also on a roll. They have won 14 games in a row and sit atop a ridiculously stacked Western Conference. They are one of the biggest threats to take the Celtics’ championship title away from them (though they will have to get through the West first).
Here are the injury reports for the Celtics’ game against the Thunder on Sunday, January 5.
Celtics injury report vs. Thunder on Sunday, January 5
- Jaylen Brown AVAILABLE (right shoulder strain)
Thunder injury report vs. Celtics Sunday, January 5
- Chet Holmgren OUT (hip)
- Alex Caruso OUT (hip)
- Ajay Mitchell OUT (toe)
- Nikola Topic OUT (ACL)
- Adam Flagler OUT (hand)
Jaylen Brown has not appeared in a game since the Celtics’ 54-point win over the Toronto Raptors. In the fourth quarter of that game, Brown was seen icing his shoulder on the bench.
Since then, Brown has been listed on the Celtics injury report with a right shoulder strain. Though he was initially listed as questionable for the two games, he was eventually ruled out of each. That said, Brown is set to make his return on Sunday against the Thunder.
Meanwhile, the Thunder have a very lengthy injury report heading into Sunday afternoon.
Chet Holmgren is out for the Thunder, and he’s been out for a while. He fractured his hip in November and has not been active since.
In addition, Alex Caruso will not play on Sunday against the Celtics. He’s dealing with a hip issue (though not one as brutal as Holmgren’s).
Rookie Ajay Mitchell will also miss Sunday’s contest as he is dealing with a toe injury.
Adam Flagler fractured his hand and will not be available on Sunday.
Lastly, Nikola Topic, who the Thunder picked in the first round, has been out all year due to a torn ACL he suffered over the summer.
Projected starting lineups for Celtics vs. Thunder
This is likely what the Celtics will roll with (depending on injuries):
- Derrick White
- Jrue Holiday
- Jayson Tatum
- Al Horford
- Kristaps POrzingis
Here is what the Thunder’s first five could look like:
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Cason Wallace
- Lu Dort
- Jalen Williams
- Isaiah Hartenstein