The Celtics will pay a visit to Milwaukee on Thursday night, pitting Eastern Conference Finals contenders. Both teams split their previous two meetings. The game will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET at Fiserv Forum.
Updates Injury for Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks
The Celtics’ loss to the short-handed Wizards on Tuesday, 130-111, dampened some of the excitement around Thursday’s clash between the two teams with the best records in the NBA.
The Celtics (52-24) behind the Bucks (55-21), with six games left in the regular season for each team, making it less likely that Thursday’s game will go a long way toward establishing the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Last year, in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals, the second-seeded Celtics won 109-81 at home against the third-seeded Bucks.
Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics scored 28 points on Tuesday after returning from a one-game absence due to a hip ailment.
The Celtics as a team had a poor game, especially on defense, but Tatum scored at a high level as usual.
The 25-year-old has led Boston to a 12-2 record in March, averaging 29.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2.9 threes, and 1.0 steals as the team chases down Milwaukee for the Eastern Conference lead.
On Wednesday, Milwaukee trounced the Indiana Pacers 149-136 in Indianapolis, increasing their lead above Boston. Jrue Holiday scored a career-high 51 points for the Bucks.
Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 38 points, grabbed 17 rebounds, and dished out 12 assists for a triple-double.
After missing Monday’s game with a knee injury, Antetokounmpo not only returned, but he led the club in rebounds, assists, and came within two points of scoring 40.
Two of Antetokounmpo’s last five games have seen him record a triple-double, bringing his total for the year to four.
NBA top-10 scorers Giannis Antetokounmpo (fifth, 31.2 points per game), Jayson Tatum (sixth, 30.1), and Boston’s Jaylen Brown (ninth, 26.8) will all be on display in Thursday’s game.
Two games between the Celtics and Bucks this season resulted in a home court victory for each team. On Christmas Day, Tatum scored 41 points to lead the Celtics to a 139-118 victory at home, while on Valentine’s Day, Holiday’s 40 points were the catalyst for Milwaukee’s 131-125 overtime victory.
- Robert Williams III – Doubt vs. Bucks
According to Taylor Snow of the Celtics’ official site, Robert Williams III’s status for Thursday’s game against the Bucks is in doubt as the team continues to monitor his right knee ailment.
At this time, Williams’ availability for both games of the Celtics’ upcoming back-to-back set is unknown.
In his absence, Boston may turn to players like Blake Griffin, Luke Kornet, and Mike Muscala, though Al Horford would likely see extended minutes at center.
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Injury Report Celtics:
| PLAYER | INJURY |
STATUS
|
| Payton Pritchard | Heel |
Game Time Decision
|
| Grant Williams | Illness |
Game Time Decision
|
| Robert Williams III | Knee |
Game Time Decision
|
| Danilo Gallinari | Knee |
Expected to be out until at least Apr 15
|
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Injury Report Bucks:
| PLAYER | INJURY |
STATUS
|
| Meyers Leonard | Calf |
Game Time Decision
|
| Jae Crowder | Calf |
Game Time Decision
|
| Khris Middleton | Knee |
Game Time Decision
|
