ORLANDO — The Celtics could once again be without Jrue Holiday on Sunday night for Game 4 against the Magic. After being sidelined for Game 3, Holiday is listed as questionable with a right hamstring strain.
“He’s day-to-day, just taking it one day at a time, kind of seeing how he comes out of it,” Mazzulla said.
The Celtics’ official injury report for Sunday’s game will be announced by 5pm on Saturday — and the team will list Holiday with an official designation of out, doubtful, questionable, or available.
Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum play through injuries in Game 3
In addition to Holiday, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum were both on the injury report on Friday, listed as questionable ahead of Game 3. Brown has been dealing with a right knee posterior impingement since mid-March, while Tatum was at risk of missing Game 4 with a right wrist bone bruise after sitting Game 3.
Both players played in Game 4. Brown, who had 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 turnovers, said afterwards he was dealing with the knee injury “one day at a time.”
Tatum, meanwhile, said his wrist was a pain tolerance issue. He finished with 36 points (10-22 FG), 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 7 turnovers.
“The treatment has been progressing every day,” Tatum said after Friday’s loss. “I was out there, so I was dealing with it. It was cool.”
It seems unlikely Tatum will miss additional time after returning for Game 3, but the Celtics will officially designate his status on Saturday afternoon, too.
Without Jrue Holiday, other Celtics players might have to step up
In Holiday’s absence, the Celtics racked up 19 turnovers and struggled with the Magic’s defensive pressure in Game 3. Derrick White said that some of that could be attributed to being down an additional ball-handler, while some of it was self-inflicted.
“Obviously, you can’t replace what Jrue Holiday brings on both sides of the ball — so everybody has a little bit different role and responsibility on both sides,” White said.
Asked Derrick White about how Jrue Holiday’s absence impacted them in Game 3:
“You can’t replace what Jrue Holiday brings on both sides of the ball… we’re a better team with him, but everybody’s going to have to take a step up when he’s not out there.” pic.twitter.com/VwWHvUWzgB
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) April 26, 2025
Joe Mazzulla similarly reflected about what Holiday brings to the table in a Zoom call on Saturday morning.
“The intangibles are endless,” he said. “The mentality that he plays with, the selflessness that he plays with, but the physicality and the toughness and defensive versatility, his ability to guard different positions, his ability to pressure the basketball, his ability to take tendencies from individual D and just make winning plays, whether it’s our offensive rebounding, defensive rebounding, screening. [He’s] another ball handler to have out there versus pressure, and then in transition, he can create advantages for others with his screening and pace.”
The Celtics have been down key starters all year, and found ways to still win 61 games in their title defense season.
Winning without key players becomes more challenging in the playoffs, but Mazzulla said he’s confident in his players stepping up regardless.
“You always want to have your whole team, your most effective players,” Mazzulla said. “And so we’ve grown to have an identity just because of how the season has gone, with every guy stepping up and doing what it takes to win.”
