Tag: celtics preview

Preview: Boston looks for 5-game streak as Hospital Celtics return

The Boston Celtics hope to extend their win streak to five games as the East’s eighth-place Orlando Magic visit TD Garden Wednesday.

The 34-15 Boston Celtics host the 22-28 Orlando Magic as Boston looks for its fifth win in a row with a number of injured players likely to sit.

The Celtics have turned around a rough January to have won seven of their last 10 games, clawing their way back up to third in the East standings, while their opponent, the Magic, hold down the eighth slot in the East after winning just three of their last 10.

Boston has reverted to the Hospital Celtics — hopefully for the very short term — with centers Daniel Theis (ankle) and Robert Williams III (hip) out for the contest and guards Kemba Walker (knee) and Marcus Smart (quad) both questionable.

Center Enes Kanter (hip) and forward Gordon Hayward (calf) are dinged up as well, but as listed as probable for the tilt.

Orlando isn’t doing much better on the injury front with forwards Jonathan Isaac (knee) and Al-Farouq Aminu (knee) both continuing to recover, and point guard D.J. Augustin (knee) joining them.

Center Khem Birch (back) may also miss the game, listed as questionable for the meeting.

Boston should win this contest handily with the talent advantage even with so many players potential scratches, but as always will have to show up to play against a team that is still dangerous despite their own litany of injuries.

This is reflected in most online sportsbooks granting the Celtics a -6 spread.

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Preview: Boston looks for four in a row on the road vs. Atlanta

The Boston Celtics are hosted by a banged-up Atlanta Hawks as they look for their fourth win in a row on the road.

The 33-15 Boston Celtics take on the 13-37 Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena today at 7:30pm ET as Boston looks for its fourth win in a row.

The Hawks have been playing comparatively well for the fact they occupy the East’s fifteenth slot, having won five of their last ten games.

Atlanta has had a few signature wins in that stretch, including victories over the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers.

The Celtics have been turning things around themselves after a rough January schedule, winning six of their last ten, with wins over the 76ers and Miami Heat in recent contests.

The Hawks will continue to sit forwards Jabari Parker (shoulder) and Chandler Parsons (concussion) as well as center Alex Len (hip), and shooting guard Cam Reddish (concussion).

The injuries could continue to pile up for Atlanta with shooting guard DeAndre Bembry (hand) doubtful for the contest, and forward Bruno Fernando (calf) and point guard Trae Young (ankle) doubtful, per Chris Kirchner of the Athletic.

Boston will be without All-Star point guard Kemba Walker (knee) and center Robert Williams III (hip), and could also sit big man Enes Kanter (knee) and guard Marcus Smart (right thigh contusion), according to the team.

The Celtics should win this game handily, particularly if Young sits with the ankle sprain. But if the dynamic floor general can play, the possibility of a stinker is always out there for the Celtics if they try and mail the game in.

This is reflected by most online sportsbooks, who grant Boston a +5.5 spread for the contest.

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Three more Celtics-76ers questions with Sixers Wire’s Ky Carlin

The Boston Celtics face the Philadelphia 76ers for the fourth and final time this season on Saturday, February 1st, so we touched base with Sixers Wire’s Ky Carlin to get the goods on what the Cs should be looking out for.

Can the Boston Celtics come away with a win this time?

After three straight losses to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Boston Celtics are hungry for a win against the Sixers — but given they couldn’t seal the deal even when center Joel Embiid was out with a torn tendon, is it unrealistic to expect them to take a game on their home court?

With the trade deadline looming, the contest could be the last, best chance for the Celtics to see if the bench has anything to contribute against a potential postseason roadblock — but what else should we know about the 76ers?

As the Celtics host their Atlantic Division rival 76ers for their fourth and final meeting of the 2019-20 NBA season, we caught up with Ky Carlin, the editor of our sister site Sixers Wire to see what’s been going on with the Sixers since they last played the Celtics.

What’s changed since these two East rivals last squared off?

As always is the case for this Sixers team, injuries. It seems like they’ve been dogged by nagging injuries for a majority of the season and now they’re dealing with an issue to Josh Richardson who will miss the game. He played a key role in the team’s win in Boston on December 12. So Shake Milton will most likely start in his place for a fourth straight game.

How does each team win?

For Philly, it’s the same story. Pound Boston inside and play bully ball. The Celtics are a smaller group so that gives Joel Embiid a chance to put up big numbers and Al Horford to go to work down low.

For the Celtics, they can use that size to their advantage in a way. All-Stars Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum can get by the bigger and slower Sixers to get to the bucket while Jaylen Brown can produce from the perimeter as well. However, when the Sixers can respond with elite defenders like Ben Simmons and Matisse Thybulle, that makes life tough for Boston.

What else should we know about the Sixers for this meeting?

That they’re incredible maddening. They have three wins over Boston plus wins over the Toronto Raptors, the Miami Heat, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Indiana Pacers, but they also have head scratching losses to the Orlando Magic, the Brooklyn Nets, and the Atlanta Hawks.

They’re supremely talented, but they’re so inconsistent and it’s hard to tell which Sixers team will show up. Time will tell how far they go in their future.

This go-round, Philly will have their prized center fully available, with Embiid having since recovered from that tendon tear and subsequent surgery. They will be without starting shooting guard Josh Richardson, however, as he continues to recover from a strained hamstring.

Former Celtic Al Horford may also miss the contest, having missed the Sixers’ prior tilt due to knee soreness.

Boston will continue to be without centers Robert Williams III (hip) and Enes Kanter (knee), and starting point guard Kemba Walker is questionable with knee soreness.

With three wins to their credit already this season, it shouldn’t surprise that most online sportsbooks grant the 76ers a +4 spread, but it ought to be a winnable game with some luck.

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Preview: Tatum, Kanter OUT as Celtics face Magic on road

The Boston Celtics try for their third win in a row on the road in Orlando without forward Jayson Tatum, who is recovering from a groin injury sustained vs. Memphis on Jan. 22.

The 29-14 Boston Celtics travel to Amway Center to face the 21-24 Orlando Magic at 7pm ET this Friday, January 24th as the Celtics look to extend their winning streak to three games.

The Magic, currently in seventh place in the East, have won five of their last 10 games and lost their last contest, against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Jan. 22.

Boston has been righting a ship that was until recently quite shaky, having won just four of their last 10 matches and two in a row, both blowouts against quality opponents.

Part of the Celtics’ issues have been the intense calendar of games in January and accompanying injuries, neither of which is letting up much.

Regarding health, Boston will continue to be without reserve center Robert Williams III (hip), and will see swingman Jayson Tatum (groin) and big man Enes Kanter (knee contusion) join in him taking the game off to heal.

Head coach Brad Stevens reporting the Turkish big man is likely to miss the team’s next game as well.

Wing Jaylen Brown (ankle) is questionable to play, but traveled with the team, and two way center Tacko Fall has been recalled to the team to help cover for the ailing frontcourt rotation in his old collegiate stomping ground.

Orlando will be without center Jonathan Isaac, forward Al-Farouq Aminu and point guard D.J. Augustin, all suffering from various knee issues.

The Celtics should have a talent advantage even if both Jays sit with starters Gordon Hayward, Marcus Smart and Kemba Walker available, but the Magic will easily win if the team mails in a game as they had for much of January.

Even still, Boston ought to come away with the win if it shows up ready to play, which is shown by the average +1 spread offered by most online sportsbooks.

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Preview: San Antonio Spurs at Boston Celtics

The 15-20 San Antonio Spurs take on the 25-9 Boston Celtics at TD Garden Wednesday night at 7pm ET, as the Celtics try to get back to their winning ways.

The 25-9 Boston Celtics take on the 15-20 San Antonio Spurs at TD Garden, with Boston looking to get back in the win column after dropping a game to the Washington Wizards Jan. 6.

The meeting is the second of two for the 2019-20 NBA season, Boston winning the prior on the road 135-115.

San Antonio won their last game, a 126-104 victory over the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks, and five of their last ten to hold the Western Conference’s eighth slot.

Boston, holding on to the East’s second slot ahead of the Miami Heat and behind the Bucks, has won eight of its last 10 games, but has been winning them narrowly over inferior teams, save Monday’s tilt with the Wizards.

Boston will be without centers Vincent Poirier (broken finger) and Robert Williams III (left hip bone edema), but Williams may be getting close to a return if his meeting with specialists this week is favorable, reports Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald.

If center Daniel Theis’ knee continues to bother him, the Celtics may need Williams, as the German big man is also questionable with left knee soreness. Boston may also be without the services of starting point guard Kemba Walker and rookie Romeo Langford, both of whom have missed time to illness.

The Spurs will be at full health for the contest.

The Celtics should have the advantage even with a number of players being out injured, reflected in online sportsbook spreads averaging -5.5 for Boston.

However, as San Antonio has demonstrated they can take out even the mighty Bucks when they aren’t locked in, Boston simply cannot come out with the level of effort they have in recent games and expect to win.

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