“SHOCKER ALERT: Celtics Face MAJOR Setback with Key Player OUT for Friday Showdown Against Magic! 😱🏀”

The Boston Celtics have a golden opportunity this Friday to secure their spot in the quarterfinals of the NBA’s inaugural in-season tournament.

Currently boasting a flawless 2-0 record, the Celtics clinched a 121-107 victory over the Brooklyn Nets and a 108-105 win against the Toronto Raptors. Remarkably, they are the sole unbeaten team in Group C.

In their last triumph, Derrick White sealed the deal with a game-winning three-pointer during the 108-105 clash with the Raptors. Now, the Celtics are gearing up to face the Orlando Magic, a team that posed challenges last season by securing two consecutive wins in a mini-series at TD Garden.

Guided by the impressive young core of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, the Magic have made a promising start to the 2023-24 campaign. Fresh off a 124-119 victory over the Denver Nuggets, Orlando holds a 10-5 record, placing them in a four-way tie for second in the Eastern Conference standings. Notably, both the Magic and the Celtics share the second-best defensive rating in the NBA, allowing 107.5 points per 100 possessions.

On the health front, the Celtics received positive news as Jaylen Brown, previously questionable with a right adductor strain, is now listed as available. However, the injury report takes a downturn as Jrue Holiday, dealing with a right ankle sprain, is ruled out for the matchup. Holiday suffered the injury in Boston’s recent 119-116 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, where he rolled his ankle on a layup attempt.

In his absence, Al Horford will step into the starting lineup. The highly anticipated game between the Celtics and the Magic is set to tip-off at 2:30 EST at the Amway Center. Follow @BobbyKrivitsky on Twitter for comprehensive updates and analysis, covering everything from pregame to post-game. #Celtics #Magic #NBA 🏀🔥