Inside The Celtics

Celtics-Pacers Injury Report, Including the Latest on Payton Pritchard

The Celtics are nearly at full strength for Friday's game vs. the Pacers.
Bobby Krivitsky|
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

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For just the 11th time this season, the Celtics will have their traditional double-big lineup, featuring Al Horford and Robert Williams alongside Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart.

That unit has logged 81 minutes together in the 2022-23 campaign, resulting in looking less sharp compared to last year's run to the NBA Finals.

While all five were available for Tuesday's win over the Kings, as Boston delivered the best performance of its six-game road trip, capping a 4-2 stretch away from the comforts of TD Garden, Joe Mazzulla opted against deploying that lineup.

Mazzulla kept Derrick White in a starting role in the victory vs. Sacramento. It was a matchup-based decision, but the Celtics have generally been better with two guards on the floor compared to their double-big lineup.

Perhaps, in Friday's tilt against the Pacers, last season's starting unit gets more minutes together.

What's certain is Boston won't have Payton Pritchard available. The former Oregon Duck will miss his eighth-straight game due to left heel pain.

However, on Thursday, the Celtics listed Pritchard as doubtful for the matchup, a reflection he's trending in the right direction.

The only other member of the hosts on their injury report is Danilo Gallinari, who hasn't played yet this season but said after practice Thursday he isn't ruling out a return in the playoffs.

Friday's tilt between the Celtics and Pacers tips off at 7:00 pm EST; Inside The Celtics will have content related to the game before, during, and afterward. And follow @BobbyKrivitsky on Twitter for updates and analysis from pregame to post.

Update: Per the Celtics, Malcolm Brogdon is a late scratch for Friday's game due to left lower back pain.

Further Reading

Former Warriors' Director of Performance Keke Lyles Shares His Perspective on Load Management, Changing Stephen Curry's Movement Patterns, And What's Helped Jayson Tatum's Durability

Devin McCourty Expresses Admiration for Jaylen Brown: 'I'm Excited to See What His Growth Looks Like and How He's Able to Impact the Community'

Jaylen Brown Addresses Non-Committal Comments About Celtics' Future: 'I'm Focused on Helping Lead My Team for Another Playoff Run'

Jayson Tatum on Robert Williams' Impact on the Celtics: 'We’re Just a Different Team'

Celtics Discuss Capping Road Trip with Convincing Win vs. Kings: 'That Looks Like the Team I Recognize'

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Win vs. Kings: Boston Looks the Part of a Title Contender, Capping Six-Game Road Trip with a 4-2 Record

[Film Room] the Primary Problem Plaguing the Celtics' Crunch-Time Defense

Jaylen Brown Wants the Celtics to Get Back to the Defensive Identity that Helped them Reach the Finals

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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