Shocking Twist! Celtics Face Major Setback with Multiple Key Players Out Against Bulls on Tuesday!

On Sunday, the Boston Celtics secured a 113-103 victory against the Atlanta Hawks, extending their undefeated streak to 7-0 at TD Garden.

Looking ahead to Tuesday, the team boasting the NBA’s top record at 13-4 is set to host the Chicago Bulls in a matchup within the ongoing in-season tournament.

Following a setback with a 113-96 loss to the Orlando Magic on Friday, the Magic, now 3-1, claim the leading position in Group C. Both the Celtics and the Brooklyn Nets find themselves tied for second place at 2-1. The tiebreaker hierarchy begins with the teams’ records in group-stage games.

The next determinant is point differential. Although the Magic have concluded their group play and the Celtics and Nets each have one more group-stage game left, the Magic hold a commanding +22 point differential, providing them with a significant edge. The Nets boast a +8 point differential, positioning them favorably for advancement over the Celtics, whose point differential stands at zero.

This scenario makes the likelihood of securing a wild card spot more plausible for the Celtics than winning Group C outright to progress to the quarterfinals. However, even achieving that may hinge on a convincing victory against the Bulls on Tuesday.

Unfortunately for the Celtics, Kristaps Porzingis will be absent due to a left calf strain, sidelining the seven-foot-three center for multiple matchups. Furthermore, the availability of Jrue Holiday for Tuesday’s game remains uncertain, as the two-time All-Star has missed the last two contests due to a right ankle sprain suffered in the aftermath of a layup attempt against the Milwaukee Bucks last week.

Jrue Holiday underwent another on-court workout on Monday, inching closer to a return, according to Joe Mazzulla. The Celtics’ injury report also designates Derrick White as probable due to a non-Covid illness.

Set to tip-off at 7:30 EST at TD Garden, Tuesday’s game against the Chicago Bulls promises to be a crucial matchup for the Boston Celtics.