The Boston Celtics head into Friday’s NBA Cup showdown with the Brooklyn Nets riding the momentum of one of their sharpest defensive performances of the season. In Tuesday’s 113–99 win at Barclays Center, Boston closed the game with a fourth-quarter chokehold — holding Brooklyn to just 14 points, four made shots and a long stretch where the Nets couldn’t create anything clean.
It was the type of closing effort Joe Mazzulla has been preaching since camp. And it was sparked by one play that flipped the final eight minutes.
With the game tied at 90, Sam Hauser jumped a passing lane for a steal and hit Neemias Queta for a transition dunk. Mazzulla praised the sequence afterward, saying, “I thought his defense was great, I thought his rebounding was really good, and he had a big-time steal at half court that I thought kind of changed the game.” That moment sparked a 17–3 Celtics run that broke the night open.
Now the two teams meet again at TD Garden, with stakes attached.
Celtics Injury Report: Only One Name Listed
Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty ImagesJayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Boston received the update every team wants during a dense NBA Cup week: their injury report is nearly spotless.
According to the team’s official injury report, the only player listed heading into Friday’s rematch is Jayson Tatum, who continues his recovery from Achilles surgery.
That means the Celtics will have every rotation player available as they continue building rhythm, pace and defensive identity with a new core. The early consistency in health has been quietly important — especially as the team adjusts to a faster style and greater emphasis on forcing turnovers.
Boston has already played a two-game set with the Orlando Magic, saw the Philadelphia 76ers three times and now gets a mini-series with Brooklyn. For a group learning each other’s tendencies, these quick turnarounds against the same opponent are going to matter.
Celtics vs. Nets: Brooklyn’s Side of the Injury Report
On the other side, Brooklyn won’t be fully intact.
Per Erik Slater of ClutchPoints, the Brooklyn Nets will be without Ben Saraf (left ankle sprain), Cam Thomas (left hamstring strain) and Haywood Highsmith (right knee surgery recovery). In addition, Danny Wolf and Nolan Traore, who logged the final minutes of Tuesday’s matchup, are also unavailable due to G League assignments.
Brooklyn will still have its primary rotation available, but the absences strip away some scoring and wing depth — two things the Celtics exploited heavily in the fourth quarter earlier this week.
Why This Clean Injury Report Matters
Like most teams adjusting to roster changes, the Celtics need reps. Real ones. The kind that come from competitive, semi-playoff environments like the NBA Cup.
Having every standard-contract player active helps them refine offensive timing and clean up defensive rotations. It also gives them a chance to test new combinations and respond directly to what the Nets showed on Tuesday.
With Tatum still sidelined, this stretch has pushed the rest of the group to build new scoring patterns and new leadership habits. Tuesday’s closing run was the clearest example of that growth.
Mazzulla wants pace, physicality and consistency. Staying healthy enough to repeat that formula is a major advantage.
Boston Stay in Control of Their NBA Cup Path
Friday’s rematch will not mirror Tuesday’s game exactly. The Nets will adjust, change coverages and try to disrupt Boston’s rhythm. The Celtics still enter this one with clarity, continuity and a fully available rotation.
In tournament play, that matters.
With another quick turnaround against the same opponent and an almost empty injury report, Boston has a real chance to keep building structure during a week designed for fast improvements.
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