Celtics Get Good News on Health Front for Sunday's Game vs. Magic

The Celtics earned a 128-111 win over the Magic in the first half of this two-tilt mini-series at TD Garden. That snapped a four-game losing streak vs. Orlando.
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

Friday night, the Boston Celtics earned what Jaylen Brown labeled their "biggest win of the year."

The 128-111 victory vs. the Orlando Magic extended their unbeaten streak at TD Garden to 13-0 this season. They also improved their overall record to 19-5, tops in the NBA.

At the root of their win was utilizing their speed advantage to shut down Orlando's offense, neutralize its physicality, and fuel perhaps their best ball movement this season.

And after figuring out how to thrive without Kristaps Porzingis, inactive on Friday due to a left calf strain, Al Horford, resting on the second half of Boston's back-to-back, Luke Kornet, unavailable because of a left adductor strain, and Dalano Banton, who has a non-Covid illness, the C's received good news on the health front.

The hosts of Sunday's rematch with the Magic knew they'd have Horford back in the lineup, but Porzingis is also off their injury report.

Kornet, who head coach Joe Mazzulla said during Friday's pregame media availability that the former told him he expects to be out for about a week, remains sidelined.

Banton is the only other player on the Celtics' injury report. He's considered questionable due to the non-Covid illness he's dealing with.

Further Reading

Celtics Utilize Speed Advantage in Run Away Win vs. Magic: 'It Makes the Game Easier'

Here's What Stood Out as Shorthanded Celtics Throttled Magic to Extend Home Unbeaten Streak

Celtics Evaluate a Key to Mini-Series Sweep of Cavaliers: 'Playing the Right Way'

Derrick White Praises Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown's Impact That 'Doesn't Show Up on the Stat Sheet'

Jayson Tatum Praises Kristaps Porzingis for Allowing Celtics to Spin the Dial Defensively

Wins on the Margins Help Propel Celtics Past Cavaliers

An Empowered Jaylen Brown Strives to Balance Scoring with Playmaking: 'I've Grown A Lot'

Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis Discuss Their Quickly Cultivated Chemistry: 'An Automatic Connection'

Joe Mazzulla Believes Celtics' Second Unit is 'Starting to Develop an Identity'

Under Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Rebuilding Brotherhood Between Past and Present


Published
Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.