Celtics May Be Down Multiple Starters vs. Bulls on Tuesday

Sunday, the Boston Celtics earned a 113-103 win over the Atlanta Hawks, improving to 7-0 at TD Garden.

Tuesday, the team with the NBA's best record (13-4) hosts the Chicago Bulls in an in-season tournament tilt.

After Friday's 113-96 loss to the Orlando Magic, the latter, 3-1, has the best record in Group C. The C's and Brooklyn Nets are in a tie for second at 2-1. The first tiebreaker is the teams' record in group-stage games.

The second is point differential. And while the Magic have finished group play and Boston Brooklyn each have one group-stage game left, the former has a +22 point differential, giving them a sizable advantage.

The Nets' is +8, giving them the inside track to advance over the Celtics, whose point differential is zero.

That makes earning a wild card spot more likely than Boston winning Group C to advance to the quarterfinals. But even that likely requires winning comfortably against the Bulls on Tuesday.

Unfortunately for the C's, Kristaps Porzingis, dealing with a left calf strain, is out. The injury will cause the seven-foot-three center to miss multiple matchups.

The hosts of Tuesday's matchup may also be without Jrue Holiday. The two-time All-Star has missed their last two contests due to a right ankle sprain he suffered when he rolled his right foot after landing on Brook Lopez's foot following a layup attempt late in Boston's 119-116 win over the Milwaukee Bucks last week.

Joe Mazzulla said that Holiday went through another on-court workout on Monday, and he's getting closer to returning.

The Celtics' injury report also lists Derrick White as probable due to a non-Covid illness.

Tuesday's game against Chicago will tip-off at 7:30 EST at TD Garden.

Further Reading

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Strategy Behind New Wrinkle Helping Celtics Win on the Margins

An Empowered Jaylen Brown Strives to Balance Scoring with Playmaking: 'I've Grown A Lot'

Here's What Stood Out as Celtics Overcame Poor Second Half vs. Hawks Sunday

Celtics' Loss to Magic Highlights Their Most Concerning Traits

Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis Discuss Their Quickly Cultivated Chemistry: 'An Automatic Connection'

Jrue Holiday Shares His Perspective on First Matchup vs. Bucks Since They Traded Him

Celtics Discuss Significance of Rivalry Win vs. 76ers for No. 1 Seed in East

Joe Mazzulla Believes Celtics' Second Unit is 'Starting to Develop an Identity'

Kristaps Porzingis Gives Glimpse of How He'll Boost Celtics Late-Game Offense

Under Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Rebuilding Brotherhood Between Past and Present