Boston Celtics Injury Report (Jan. 22): Latest on Jrue Holiday and Al Horford's status
The Boston Celtics are coming off a massive blowout win against the Golden State Warriors on Monday, but injury woes could affect their steady regular season run so far. Key players Jrue Holiday and Al Horford are currently nursing injuries ahead of their match against the LA Clippers on Wednesday.
Holiday is questionable for the game as he is still recovering from a right shoulder injury. Meanwhile, the 38-year-old Horford is also questionable due to a left big toe sprain.
The two veterans were crucial in the Celtics’ NBA championship run last season, playing as solid defensive anchors on the perimeter and inside the paint. This year, Holiday and Horford continue to provide a stabilizing presence on both ends of the floor.
Holiday is currently averaging 11.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, while also being the main perimeter defender for the team. Holiday also averages 1.0 steals and 0.4 blocks per game. This season has been Holiday’s lowest-scoring season since his rookie year in 2010 with the Philadelphia 76ers. Given his injury, the Celtics might opt to sit him out against the Clippers to allow for further recovery.
Meanwhile, Horford averages 8.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game this season. The veteran center has also missed time earlier in the season due to illnesses and concussions.
So far, the Celtics are expected to remain cautious in managing their players' injuries ahead of the All-Star break next month and the playoff hunt right after that.
Jrue Holiday’s injury may linger as the season goes
On New Year’s Day, Jrue Holiday addressed his ongoing shoulder issues and provided an update on his condition. He revealed that the injury, classified by the team as a right shoulder impingement, might persist throughout the season but will be manageable:
“The shoulder’s okay. It sucks to sit out, so it felt great to be back and obviously be in this arena and play in front of the fans in the last game of the New Year. I think it was just a hit or something like that where my shoulder just kind of felt weird, and then over time, it just got worse and worse,” he said.
Holiday played in the Celtics’ previous game against the Golden State Warriors, where he held four-time champion Steph Curry to just 18 points on 6-of-16 shooting from the field.
Without Holiday in their lineup, the Celtics will rely on guards like Derrick White, Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard to step up and fill the void left by Jrue.