The Celtics could be without two starters and three rotation players on Monday night as they host the Utah Jazz at TD Garden. Boston is expected to be without Kristaps Porzingis for the sixth straight game after he was listed as doubtful due to illness. The team upgraded him to questionable before Saturday’s win versus the Lakers before ruling him out so the doubtful designation is a downgrade for the big man who has missed six of his last seven games overall.
Jayson Tatum (left knee tendiopathy) and Al Horford (toe sprain) are both listed as questionable for the matchup. Tatum is coming off playing 45 minutes in the Celtics’ win over the Lakers on Saturday night while Horford played 37 minutes in the victory, two very high totals for a regular season matchup. Tatum hinted after the win he could be getting some rest in the weeks to come.
“We’re always in constant communication with each other,” Tatum said about his talks with Joe Mazzulla about his workload. “Probably not going to play every game rest of the season, but kind of building up your stamina going into the playoffs, knowing that certain nights you might play 45, 44 minutes. So just kind of getting your body ready for that.”
Tatum also sat out one half of Boston’s back-to-backs last week in a win over the Blazers. The Jazz will not release an injury report until Monday since they are playing on Sunday night in Philadelphia but they are without Jordan Clarkson (foot), John Collins (back), Walker Kessler (rest), Lauri Markkanen (back) and Collin Sexton (ankle) for the matchup.
The Celtics will look for their fifth straight win of their homestand when they host the Jazz on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. at TD Garden.
