ORLANDO — The Celtics could be without three starters ahead of Game 3 against the Orlando Magic. Jayson Tatum (right distal radius bone bruise) is doubtful to play after missing Game 2 with a wrist injury suffered in Game 1. Jrue Holiday is questionable with a right hamstring strain, and Jaylen Brown is a late addition to the injury report, now questionable with the same right knee posterior impingement that has been bothering him since mid-February.
Tatum and Holiday were both on the injury report that the Celtics released on Thursday evening, while Brown was added to the report after the Celtics’ shootaround on Friday. Shootaround closed to the media before Tatum, Holiday, or Brown took the floor, so it’s uncertain how much they were able to get through ahead of Game 3.
Speaking on 98.5’s Zolak and Bertrand on Thursday, Joe Mazzulla indicated the injury was perhaps more severe than initially believed.
“He’s dealing with a severe bone bruise. He’s day-to-day,” Mazzulla said. “He’s progressively gotten a little bit better each day.”
Celtics will carry next-man-up mentality into Game 3 if Tatum, Holiday, Brown are sidelined
At shootaround Friday, Al Horford expressed his confidence in the team regardless of who was available to play.
“You always want to have a full healthy team,” Horford said. “But we’ve had to deal with this all season. Because of that, other guys have had an opportunity. Whether it’s Sam Hauser coming off the bench and having an impact, Luke [Kornet], Baylor [Scheierman], whoever it is, we just have to stay ready at any moment. We’ll see what happens tonight. If that’s what needs to be done, I know our guys will be ready.”
I asked Al Horford about the Celtics’ confidence despite injuries & he named Sam Hauser, Baylor Scheierman as guys that could step up:
“You always want to have a full healthy team. But we’ve had to deal with this all season. Because of that, other guys have had an opportunity.” pic.twitter.com/ibICINBSQs
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) April 25, 2025
If all three Celtics starters are sidelined, Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, and Al Horford will likely enter the starting lineup. Horford has been the automatic fill-in when any starter has been injured this year, while Pritchard and Hauser both seem slated to see increased minutes. It’s possible that a bench player who has yet to lace up this postseason — like Torrey Craig or Baylor Scheierman — could see some rotation minutes on Friday.
The Celtics hold a 2-0 series lead heading into Game 3 against the Magic. Game 3 will tip off at 7pm ET in Orlando.
