The Boston Celtics travel to Milwaukee to take on the Bucks in an inner-conference tilt tomorrow night.
Boston is coming off a dominant win over the Miami Heat in a game that saw the Celtics tie the NBA record for the most points in the first quarter. The team poured in 53 points and effectively slammed the door on the Heat in the first 12 minutes.
Winning in that fashion is always a tremendous confidence booster, something any team will gladly welcome at the end of the season when playoff ramifications are abundant every night.
More importantly, Boston saw almost all its stars in the lineup.
The Jays — Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown — flexed their duo muscle all game. Both stars combined for 68 points, the most between the two in the few games they’ve shared so far this season.
As the race to the regular season finish line intensifies over the next 12 days, nothing is more crucial than maintaining health and stacking wins to help pave the way for a lengthy postseason run.
Boston Celtics drop full injury report for Game No. 77
It is officially April.
Teams are either gearing up to go on a hopeful two-month odyssey to achieve it all or winding down for the summer.
Fortunately for Boston, the franchise is in an all-too familiar spot. It knows what’s typically on the itinerary at this time of year.
With 51 wins and counting, the second-seeded C’s are seeking to finish the 82-game strong and begin their journey back to the NBA Finals.
GettyBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – NOVEMBER 16: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
All signs point to the Celtics getting fully healthy at the right time.
In recent weeks, the team has seen several stars appear on the injury report, including Tatum, mostly for Achilles repair management, and Brown. Star guard Derrick White has also battled some minor lower-extremity trouble, but he has been gutting it out and hasn’t missed games.
Turning to tomorrow night against the lottery-destined Bucks, the Celtics are happy to learn that they are almost entirely whole.
Here is the official injury report the team released ahead of tomorrow’s game in Milwaukee:
- Nikola Vucevic: OUT (right ring finger fracture)
Boston is missing one final piece before postseason run
The biggest question all year was once about Tatum. Suddenly, it has been nearly one month since the former All-Star made his season debut against the Dallas Mavericks.
While he’s had some understandable ups and downs since returning to the court, Tatum has begun coming into his own, as evidenced by a recent 30-plus point burst on the road against the streaking Charlotte Hornets.
Against Miami on Wednesday, Tatum didn’t post his usual efficiency — 9-for-21 shooting overall and just 4-for-13 from 3 in 37 minutes — but his volume shooting to go along with the confidence he exhibited in taking more shots is an encouraging indicator.
Now the Celtics are awaiting Vucevic to get cleared to return.
The 35-year-old big man was acquired a few days ahead of the February trade deadline. The move meant an immediate upgrade in the front court and even more quality depth.
Vucevic happened to fracture his right ring finger just a couple of days before Tatum’s return. The two stars are yet to share the court, which is important to note in terms of establishing some continuity ahead of the playoffs.
Boston aims for its 52nd win of the season tonight in a game the team absolutely must take care of easy business.
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