After two tilts in the Midwest, the Boston Celtics return to the comforts of TD Garden. Tuesday night, they'll host the New York Knicks in a rivalry clash.
The two sides squared off in the second game of the season. It was a playoff rematch at Madison Square Garden where an abysmal second quarter sank the Celtics. The visitors gave up 42 points that period. In the other three, the Knicks never surpassed 23. The 12 minutes before halftime undermined the rest of Boston's performance, leading to a 105-95 loss.
Now the C's aim to even the regular season series at one apiece. Fortunately, they have received encouraging news on two of their starters before Tuesday's tilt tips off.
Celtics getting two starters back vs. Knicks
According to the Celtics' latest injury report, Neemias Queta and Derrick White are available to play against the Knicks.
Queta missed Sunday's 117-115 victory vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers due to left ankle sprain injury management. The team wisely erred on the side of caution. Boston's starting center logged 29 minutes in a 119-115 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on the front end of a back-to-back.
After spraining his left ankle in the Celtics' win over the Orlando Magic, the fifth-year center missed their victory vs. the Detroit Pistons the day before Thanksgiving.
Like Queta, Derrick White sat out Boston's win against the Cavaliers, perhaps the team's gutsiest performance this season. Down their starting center, and with White sidelined by a right calf contusion, the Celtics, who arrived in Cleveland at about 2 a.m. due to a delayed flight, triumphed on the road against one of the most talented teams in the Eastern Conference. That Boston did so on the second night of a back-to-back against an opponent that came in fresh adds to the impressive nature of that accomplishment.
Fortunately, now back on the parquet, the hosts are poised to have their starting lineup intact against New York. Initially, White and Queta got listed as probable to play vs. the Knicks. That was a signal that their recoveries were trending in this direction, and that both were more likely to suit up tonight than remain on the inactive list.
The only player on their injury report is Jayson Tatum, as he works his way back from a torn Achilles tendon.
Tuesday night's rivalry matchup between the Celtics and Knicks tips off at 8:00 EST.