Two Celtics All-Stars in Danger of Missing Raptors Matchup

Boston may not have its full compliment of stars available against the lowly Toronto.

Jun 17, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) and guard Jrue Holiday (4) react in the second quarter against the Dallas Mavericks during game five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images / David Butler II-Imagn Images

The Boston Celtics could once again be without two All-Stars on Tuesday, as they look to close out a very decorated 2024 with a victory against the lowly Toronto Raptors.

According to the league's latest injury report, center Kristaps Porzingis and All-Defensive Second Team guard Jrue Holiday are considered questionable to suit up.

Holiday has been dealing with a right shoulder impingement for a week. His last healthy game was Boston's 108-104 loss to the Orlando Magic on December 23. Across his 26 healthy games this season, the two-time All-Star is averaging 12.2 points on .448/.326/.889 shooting splits, 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 0.9 steals a night for the 23-9 Celtics. He remains one of the league's elite perimeter defenders, along with teammates Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum, and seems likely to earn a seventh All-Defensive Team honor this spring if he can stay healthy.

The oft-injured Porzingis departed the first half of the Celtics' 118-114 Christmas Day loss to the Philadelphia 76ers with a sprained left ankle, and hasn't been heard from since. In his 11 healthy bouts for Boston this year, the 7-foot-2 big man is averaging 18.3 points while slashing .453/.328/.849, 6.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.5 rejections and 0.7 steals a night.

Elsewhere on the Celtics' injury report, rookie first round draft pick Baylor Scheierman is on assignment to the Celtics' NBAGL affiliate, the Maine Celtics, as are two-way players JD Davison and Anton Watson.

Toronto's leading scorer, veteran small forward RJ Barrett, will miss the contest due to an illness. Through 27 healthy games, the 6-foot-6 Duke wing is averaging 23.4 points on .459/.344/.726 shooting splits, 6.8 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 0.7 steals a night. Second-year former Raptors lottery pick Gradey Dick, who's enjoying a breakout season, is questionable to play through a tight right hamstring.

Bench center Bruno Fernando is questionable with left foot great toe inflammation. Guard Davion Mitchell is questionable with an illness of his own. Guard Immanuel Quickley is also on the shelf with a left elbow partial UCL tear.

At 7-25, the Raptors have a very different perspective on their 2024-25 season than the 23-9 Celtics do. The reigning champions are ideally placed to defend their title, while Toronto looks primed to contend for the opportunity to select Duke standout Cooper Flagg at the top of the 2025 NBA Draft. To that end, both teams' front offices likely want Boston to win this game.

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