The Boston Celtics are in Brooklyn to face the Nets on Friday night. Earlier in the day, they added Neemias Queta to their injury report. The team's starting center is dealing with a non-Covid illness. Fortunately for the visitors, they have now upgraded him from questionable to available for their matchup at the Barclays Center.
Queta is thriving with his opportunity in the first unit. The seven-foot center is averaging 10.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and nearly 1.0 steals per contest. Opponents are shooting 10.7 percent worse around the basket when he's there to protect the rim. That ranks in the 83rd percentile, per databallr.com.
The fifth-year center registered five rejections in Boston's 119-104 win over the Indiana Pacers Wednesday night at TD Garden. It was a performance that showcased his maturation, as he effectively paired his athleticism with a more disciplined defensive approach. That balance is further elevating a Celtics unit that's yielding the second-fewest points per game.
Queta getting upgraded to available is welcome news for Friday night's tilt. However, it also sparks the question of what it means for his status on Saturday.
The Celtics travel from Brooklyn to Chicago to face the Bulls in the second half of this back-to-back. While their starting center is in the lineup against the Nets, perhaps they'll have to play without him on Saturday.
Who else is on the Celtics' injury report?
While Boston will have Queta patrolling the paint on Friday night in Brooklyn, the visitors won't have the best shot-blocking guard in the league in the lineup.
Derrick White is out for this game against the Nets. Rest is the official reason for his absence. That speaks to this being a well-deserved day off for the ninth-year veteran.
The 31-year-old guard has logged the most minutes on the team. He has played 58.8 more minutes than Payton Pritchard, who has registered the second-most floor time for the Celtics.
The visitors are also without Josh Minott for Friday's tilt in Brooklyn. The former Minnesota Timberwolf is dealing with a left ankle sprain. He is about to miss his tenth straight game. Even before that, the fourth-year wing had only played in one of Boston's previous five matchups.
Minott is averaging 6.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and nearly 1.0 steals per contest this season. He is also knocking down over 50 percent of his field goal attempts.
Friday's game against the Nets will tip-off at 7:30 EST.