Subscribe
Follow Us
The Boston Celtics will visit the Orlando Magic for Game 3 of their first-round series on Friday night. Jayson Tatum is doubtful, and Jrue Holiday is questionable on the team's injury report. Tatum is dealing with a bone bruise in his right wrist, while Holiday has a right hamstring strain.
Here's everything we know about both players' injuries and playing statuses vs. the Magic.
*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (Get Access | Save $30)*
Jayson Tatum injury status vs. Magic
Tatum injured his wrist while falling on a Kentavious Caldwell-Pope foul while attempting a layup during Game 1. He missed Game 2 due to the injury, and didn't seem like he would be ready to play in Game 3 after coming in with a doubtful designation.
While the superstar forward's X-rays came back clean, head coach Joe Mazzula called the bone bruise “severe.”
“He’s dealing with a severe bone bruise. He’s day-to-day,” Mazzulla said in his weekly interview on 98.5 the Sports Hub's Zolak and Bertrand. “He’s progressively gotten a little bit better each day.”
Before tip-off, the Celtics provided a somewhat surprising update on Tatum. After warming up, the team listed their superstar forward as available to play as the Celtics look to take a 3-0 lead in the first round. Jaylen Brown is also good to go despite dealing with a lingering knee injury.
Tatum averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists on 45/34/81 shooting splits on his way to his sixth-straight All-Star appearance this season. He posted 17 points, 14 rebounds and four assists on 8-of-22 shooting during the Celtics' Game 1 victory over the Magic.
Holiday popped up on Boston's injury report following its Game 2 victory. He played 36 minutes in the win, posting 11 points, four rebounds and six assists on 4-of-9 shooting. Unfortunately for Boston, Holiday is unable to go in Game 3 and will hope to be back for Game 4.
Holiday has continued to provide an elite defensive presence this season. The veteran guard posted a -3.9 defensive rating swing this season, the highest on the Celtics and the fourth-highest among all combo guards to play at least 1,500 minutes, per CleaningTheGlass.
The Celtics hold a commanding 2-0 lead and remain overwhelming favorites against the Magic, despite Tatum and Holiday dealing with injuries. However, both players' injuries will be storylines to monitor throughout the playoffs, with matchups against the New York Knicks/Detroit Pistons and potentially the Cleveland Cavaliers upcoming.
Celtics injury report
Jayson Tatum: Available – Injury/Illness – Right Distal Radius; Bone Bruise
Jrue Holiday: Out – Injury/Illness – Right Hamstring; Strain
Jaylen Brown: Available – Injury/Illness – Right Knee
Magic injury report
Jalen Suggs: Out – Injury/Illness – Left Knee; Trochlea cartilage tear
Moritz Wagner: Out – Injury/Illness – Left Knee; Torn ACL
