It’s time to hit the road. Starting on Friday night, the Boston Celtics embark on a six-game road trip against a bunch of Western Conference teams. Most of the squads they will play are toward the bottom of the standings, but that doesn’t mean it will be a cake walk for the reigning champs.
First up on the schedule is the Utah Jazz. Boston just played a tight one with the Jazz during their recent homestand. The Celtics were up for most of the game, but in the fourth quarter, Utah got hot from beyond the three-point line and made the game close in the final minutes.
Here is the Celtics injury report for their game against the Jazz on Friday, March 21.
Celtics injury report vs. Jazz on Friday, March 21
- Jaylen Brown OUT (right knee posterior impingement)
- Xavier Tillman OUT (left knee joint sprain)
Jazz injury report vs. Celtics on Friday, March 21
- John Collins OUT (left ankle sprain)
- Taylor Hendricks OUT (right fibula fracture)
- Lauri Markkanen OUT (personal reasons)
- KJ Martin OUT (right elbow bursitis)
- Svi Mykhailiuk QUESTIONABLE (right foot strain)
- Jaden Springer QUESTIONABLE (low back injury management)
As the Celtics’ season winds down, they will have to find a balance between resting their star players and keeping up their high level of play. A game like this one could be an opportunity to grab some extra rest.
Jaylen Brown has been dealing with some lingering knee issues all season, and he will be out against the Jazz due to a right knee posterior impingement.
Brown exited the Celtics’ game in Brooklyn at halftime this past Saturday, and he was then out for their game on Tuesday against the same Brooklyn Nets. This will be the second game in a row he missed.
Joining him on the injury report is Xavier Tillman, who is dealing with a knee issue of his own. He’s out due to a left knee joint sprain.
Meanwhile, Utah has a massive injury report heading into Friday night.
John Collins is out on Tuesday due to a left ankle sprain, and Lauri Markkanen is out for personal reasons. KJ Martin is also on the injury report, out with right elbow buritis.
On top of that, two former Celtics are questionable to play against Boston on Friday.
Svi Mykhailiuk is questionable to play due to a right foot strain, and Jaden Springer is questionable due to low back injury management.
Taylor Hendricks remained out after fracturing his right fibula earlier in the year.
Projected starting lineups for Celtics vs. Jazz
This is likely what the Celtics will roll with:
- Derrick White
- Jrue Holiday
- Jayson Tatum
- Al Horford
- Kristaps Porzingis
Here is what the first five for the Jazz could look like:
- Isaiah Collier
- Collin Sexton
- Cody Williams
- Kyle Filipowski
- Walker Kessler