Al Horford
BOS • Center-Forward • #42
Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis will start Wednesday’s game against the Pistons.
Holiday, Horford and Porzingis are available after sitting out Tuesday’s win over the Raptors, but the Celtics are without Jaylen Brown (thigh). As a result, Horford will start rather than be the first player off the bench. Due to Brown’s absence, Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser will have added value as reserves.
2 months ago
February 26, 2025 11:48 PM
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Kristaps Porziņģis
BOS • Forward-Center • #8
5 days ago
Kristaps Porzingis logged 21 minutes in Tuesday’s Game 5 win over the Magic, scoring nine points (3-of-8 FGs, 3-of-4 FTs) with two rebounds, one assist, one steal and one blocked shot.
Porzingis got into foul trouble in Game 5, picking up three fouls during the first half. And for the second straight game, he was brought off the bench to begin the third quarter. Payton Pritchard (10/3/1 with two three-pointers in 25 minutes) started the third as the Celtics went small. Porzingis played 22 and 21 minutes in the final two games of this series, so the time off before the start of the second round may be beneficial to the Celtics center. Next up for Boston is either New York or Detroit.
Jaylen Brown
BOS • Guard-Forward • #7
5 days ago
Jaylen Brown (knee) tallied 23 points (9-of-18 FGs, 3-of-5 FTs), six rebounds, three assists and two three-pointers in 32 minutes in a Game 5 win over the Magic on Tuesday.
Brown’s right knee continues to be an issue, but he logged 32 minutes in Game 5 and was efficient offensively. Boston taking care of business in five games will provide the banged-up champions with valuable rest before the second round begins. And this group made some franchise history, winning their fifth consecutive playoff series. That’s the sixth time the Celtics have accomplished that feat. However, the Brown/Tatum-led Celtics are the first to win all five series in five games or fewer. Next up for the reigning champs will be either New York or Detroit in the second round.
Source: Sean Grande
Jayson Tatum
BOS • Forward-Guard • #0
5 days ago
Jayson Tatum accounted for 35 points (10-of-16 FGs, 11-of-11 FTs), eight rebounds, 10 assists, one steal and four three-pointers in 34 minutes in a 120-89 Game 5 win over the Magic on Tuesday.
Closing out a series can be difficult, as the Celtics were reminded on Tuesday. They trailed Orlando by two at the half, with Tatum shooting 6-of-9 from the field. He would only make four more field goals on the night, but the six-time All-Star took advantage of the foul line. Tatum made all 11 of his attempts in Game 5, extending his streak to 37 consecutive made free throws. With New York losing to Detroit on Tuesday, the Celtics will have a rest advantage to begin the second round, regardless of who their next opponent will be.
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Wendell Carter Jr.
ORL • Center-Forward • #34
5 days ago
Wendell Carter Jr. recorded 12 points (5-of-10 FGs, 2-of-4 FTs), 10 rebounds, one assist and two steals in 34 minutes in a Game 5 loss to the Celtics on Tuesday.
Carter reached double digits in rebounds in four of the five games, recording two double-doubles. While he certainly wasn’t elite, the Magic center had a decent finish to his fourth full season with the franchise. Appearing in 68 regular-season games, Carter’s scoring output decreased, but he was more productive in rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots. Unfortunately, the starting role has not made WCJ a significant fantasy asset, as he finished the season ranked outside the top-175 in category leagues and outside the top-150 in points leagues. With three guaranteed seasons remaining on his contract, Carter will likely go into training camp locked into the starting center role.
Mitchell Robinson
NYK • Center-Forward • #23
5 days ago
Mitchell Robinson finished Tuesday’s Game 5 loss to the Pistons with 13 points (5-of-8 FGs, 3-of-7 FTs), 11 rebounds, two steals and two blocks in 23 minutes.
Robinson, who totaled eight points in the first four games of the series, had his best performance in Game 5. He recorded a double-double and four “stocks,” providing solid value off the bench. While foul shooting remains an issue, with the Pistons intentionally fouling Robinson on multiple occasions, the Knicks are aware of what they have in their reserve center. He’ll need to produce a similar effort in Game 6 on Thursday, especially if the Pistons can get Isaiah Stewart (knee) on the court. He has not played since Game 1.
Karl-Anthony Towns
NYK • Center-Forward • #32
5 days ago
Karl-Anthony Towns tallied 17 points (5-of-14 FGs, 5-of-6 FTs), 11 rebounds, one assist, two blocks and two three-pointers in 34 minutes in a Game 5 loss to the Pistons on Tuesday.
After dropping 58 points in the Knicks’ two victories in Detroit, Towns was held in check by the Pistons in Game 5. A reason for this was the decision to leave Tobias Harris on KAT as his primary defender, avoiding extended periods in which Jalen Duren took on the responsibility. Harris was outstanding defensively, challenging most of Towns’ looks and making it difficult for him to establish a presence on the low block. Also, the absence of pick-and-rolls with Jalen Brunson did not do Towns any favors. The Knicks should utilize that action much more in Game 6 on Thursday, as they look to end the series.