The NBA Playoffs are here. The Boston Celtics are slated to take on the Orlando Magic in the first round. In the regular season, the Celtics lost the series 2-1 against the Magic, but the slate was plagued with injuries for both sides. Boston will be beginning its quest to become the first back-to-back champions since the 2017 and 2018 Golden State Warriors.
Meanwhile, this Magic group is still hoping to earn its first playoff series win as a collective. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are still in the early stages of their career, and while they are very much underdogs heading into this series, a quality performance could do a lot for their confidence moving forward.
Here is the Celtics injury report for Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against the Magic on Sunday, April 20.
Celtics injury report vs. Magic on Sunday, April 20
- NONE
Magic injury report vs. Celtics from Sunday, April 20
- Jalen Suggs OUT (left knee; trochlea cartilage tear)
- Mo Wagner OUT(torn ACL)
Heading into the playoffs, the Celtics are completely healthy. Nobody is listed on their injury report, and everyone will be available to play.
Jaylen Brown has dealt with a knee issue since February, and prior to the postseason, he received injections to help the problem. After practice on Saturday, Brown revealed that he’ll be good to go for Game 1 with no minutes restriction. He also stated that he’s been feeling good at practices.
“Practice was great," said Brown. "Just taking it one day at a time. Just like everybody else. We had a great breakdown, great game plan, so we just got to come out and execute.”
On top of that, Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday have dealt with injuries throughout the season. Porzingis dealt with an illness in early March, and Holiday has been dealing with mallet finger.
Both will be good to go for the playoffs, though.
For Orlando, two players will be sidelined to open the playoffs, and both will be out for the entire series. Mo Wagner tore his ACL earlier this season, and Jalen Suggs suffered a season-ending knee injury as well. Both are out for the year.
Projected starting lineups for Celtics vs. Magic
This is likely what the Celtics will roll with:
- Derrick White
- Jrue Holiday
- Jaylen Brown
- Jayson Tatum
- Kristaps Porzingis
Here is what the first five for the Magic could look like:
- Cory Joseph
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
- Franz Wagner
- Paolo Banchero
- Wendell Carter Jr.