The Boston Celtics' injury report is trending in a positive direction. For the second straight game, the hosts are only without Jayson Tatum as he rehabs from a torn Achilles tendon. The rest of the roster is available for Wednesday's matchup against the Washington Wizards at TD Garden.
That depth could help Boston bounce back after two straight losses. That includes Monday's 105-103 defeat at the hands of the Utah Jazz. It was a rare instance where the Celtics, from Joe Mazzulla to Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, called out the team's effort.
"The third quarter, they got the best of us, and they played harder than us," Joe Mazzulla told Hardwood Houdini after giving up 38 points in the third quarter of Wednesday's loss. "It was a combination of just transition, offensive rebounds, and then some of their dribble-drive stuff, not being able to defend without fouling."
Wizards down a starter vs. the Celtics
As the hosts aim to get back into the win column and improve to 4-5, they take on a Wizards team that's young, talented, and still figuring out how to win.
Washington has trusted veteran leadership, including a mentor of Anfernee Simons, CJ McCollum.
"As much as, obviously, everybody talks about my mentorship with Dame, obviously, and CJ is also a big part of my development, especially as a young player," said Simons after Wednesday's shoot-around. "Just giving that, like kind of balance of both play styles, and so just his shiftiness and his ability to just get to the spots he want to get to, and his craftiness around the rim. I think those are things that I took the most from CJ.
"He's helped me tremendously throughout my career: how to play even when he might not be the most athletic, the fastest, and being able to be effective at the same time. So, I credit him for a lot as well as Dame."
However, Washington will be without another one of its veteran leaders on Wednesday. Khris Middleton will miss his second straight game due to right knee soreness. It's an injury that also forced him to miss the Wizards' 119-102 loss to the New York Knicks on Monday.
The 13-year veteran has started in all six games he has appeared in. He is averaging 11.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and nearly a steal per contest. Middleton is also knocking down 41.2 percent of the 2.8 threes he's hoisting.
Tip-off between the Celtics and Wizards is at 7:30 p.m. EST at TD Garden.