The Boston Celtics entered the TD Garden on Wednesday with their season on the line. The Cs were dismantled by the Knicks in Game 4, after which they fell into a 3-1 deficit, and even one more mistake could end their title defense.
However, Derrick White and Jaylen Brown understood the assignment, as they combined for a staggering 60 points to ensure a hard-fought 127-102 win in Game 5. But they don’t have any time to rest as they return to action tonight with the hopes of taking this series to a Game 7. Nevertheless, they might have to do so without a few of their superstars on the court. Whom? You might ask.
Well, the Celtics had a grueling first-round series against the Magic. Although they wrapped it up in just five games, that left its lingering scars. Backup point guard Jrue Holiday was one of the notable absences in the first round. The 34-year-old missed three games against Orlando due to an unfortunate hamstring injury. While the Celtics took care of business against the Magic, they needed Holiday’s presence in this series. Well, he’s been pretty solid so far and will be hoping to continue that tonight. Jrue Holiday has been averaging 10.3 points, along with 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists.
Having him on the floor will be great news for the Celtics as they suit up for a do-or-die game tonight. Meanwhile, there are also some questions about Boston’s starting point guard, Derrick White’s fitness. The 30-year-old Boston guard was phenomenal on Wednesday as he scored a team-high 34 points while shooting 7-of-13 from the field and making 9 free throws. “We made winning plays on both ends of the floor,” Boston’s HC Joe Mazzulla said about his team’s performance. “They made enough plays to win. Gave us another chance to play.” Derrick White will be hoping to emulate his Game 5 performance tonight as well.
Mar 15, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) reacts after making a three point shot ]against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
That’s because he’s not on the injury report, indicating his availability for this high-stakes clash. Well, Boston does have both of their point guards ready for tonight’s matchup. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t have any other injury problems. If you’re not aware, the Celtics were without their superstar, Jayson Tatum, in Game 5. This came after the Boston forward lunged for a loose ball in the waning moments of Game 4 and tore his right Achilles muscle. Tatum was in excruciating pain as he left Madison Square Garden in a wheelchair. The Boston star has now successfully gone through surgery and is set to miss the remainder of the season and even the next one.
“Thankful for all the love and support,” Tatum wrote on his Instagram post in which he’s seen in a hospital bed post-surgery. Prayers poured in for the Boston Celtics star as everyone from NBA players to fans wished JT a speedy recovery. While Tatum’s injury is unfortunate, it has cast a shadow on his team’s season. The Celtics did hold their ground without Tatum on Wednesday, but another test lies ahead of them tonight. It will be interesting to see how head coach Joe Mazzulla approaches this high-intensity game tonight at their home court in Boston.
How can Boston’s starting five look tonight?
Boston’s head coach, Joe Mazzulla, will have some thinking to do tonight as he and his team gear up for arguably their biggest game this season. There’s no doubt that they’ll miss Jayson Tatum big time, given how well he’s been throughout the season. Nonetheless, the Cs will have to move on. Keeping that in mind, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White will once again have to step up and carry the offensive load. Meanwhile, whenever White needs a breather, Payton Pritchard can step in, something he’s done pretty well the whole season.
So, here’s how the Celtics could lineup:
Position
Starter
PG
Derrick White
SG
Jrue Holiday
SF
Jaylen Brown
PF
Al Horford
C
Kristaps Porzingis
There’s no doubt that this is an all-hands-on-deck situation for the Celtics. One wrong move could potentially end their title defense. This adds that extra layer of pressure on the team. On the other hand, New York will be looking to clinch that Eastern Conference Finals spot tonight. The Knicks would not want this series to go down to the wire, where anything could happen. So, it will be interesting to watch who comes out on top. Will we see a game 7? Or will the Knicks enter their first conference finals since 2000? Only time will tell.
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