The Boston Celtics suffered a stinging 102-100 loss in their latest rivalry clash with the Philadelphia 76ers. They're now 2-5 in crunch-time contests this season. The definition for those games is within five points in the final five minutes. However, they must turn the page quickly.
On Wednesday, the Celtics welcome the Memphis Grizzlies to TD Garden. There was a slight concern that the hosts would have to take the parquet without Hugo Gonzalez. Their first-round pick in this year's NBA Draft suffered a left ankle sprain in Tuesday's loss in "The City of Brotherly Love."
Fortunately, he later returned from the locker room to rejoin his team on the bench. While the odds were against him taking the floor again that night, the Celtics upgraded him to available to rejoin the action at the Xfinity Mobile Arena.
A day later, Boston listed him as probable to play against Memphis. Fortunately, after going through a pregame workout where he was moving around well, as coaches Craig Luschenat and Tyler Lashbrook ran him through drills, the hosts upgraded Gonzalz to available for Wednesday's matchup.
Pregame, Joe Mazzulla said that the rookie will not have a minutes restriction. He also praised his defensive instincts.
"I think he's in that same category as Jordan [Walsh] and Josh [Minott] and the guys that have the responsibility and the expectation to defend the other team's best player at a high level, whether it's for three possessions or an entire game or [a] quarter," said Mazzulla.
"So, I think as a young guy, he's ahead of the curve on his defensive instincts, which, you don't see a lot [of] young guys coming into the league. And his defensive instincts are top-notch. His effort is top-notch, and he's a defensive playmaker."
Who's on the Grizzlies' injury report?
The only player out for the Celtics is Jayson Tatum as he rehabs from a torn Achilles tendon. The visitors' injury report is a much longer list.
Star guard Ja Morant entered Wednesday's out-of-conference clash listed as questionable due to right ankle soreness. The former All-NBA selection logged over 33 minutes in Memphis's 133-120 loss to the New York Knicks on Tuesday. He finished the defeat with 16 points, 10 assists, and eight turnovers.
As game-time nears, Memphis's head coach, Tuomas Lisalo, shared that Ja Morant is trending towards being out against Boston. Before tip-off, he officially got declared inactive.
The Grizzlies remain without Brandon Clarke, a pivotal member of the team's front court. He is yet to make his season debut due to recovery from a right knee surgery.
They are also without Zach Edey. The seven-foot-three center is working his way back from left ankle surgery. In the backcourt, Ty Jerome is out due to a right calf strain. Scotty Pippen Jr. is sidelined because of left great toe surgery. Javon Small is out due to turf toe.
Wednesday night's tilt between the Celtics and Grizzlies is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 EST at TD Garden.