The Boston Celtics may face a challenging matchup against the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night, as both Jaylen Brown and Neemias Queta are listed as probable due to health concerns. Brown is contending with left hamstring tightness, an issue that has followed him since the preseason. Despite this discomfort, he managed to deliver an impressive performance in a recent double-overtime victory over the Brooklyn Nets, registering a triple-double with 27 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds. Brown acknowledged that the tightness impacted his explosiveness, stating, “I should be able to just blow by him and do what I do, but I just didn’t have that acceleration tonight.”
The Celtics will enter this game on the second night of a back-to-back, potentially affecting their performance given the heavy minutes logged by key players the previous night. Brown led the team in minutes played with 46, while teammates Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser also exceeded 39 minutes. Queta, meanwhile, is grappling with a non-COVID illness that necessitated last-minute adjustments, including a last-minute flight for two-way rookie Amari Williams, who played a crucial role in the overtime win.
In addition to Brown and Queta, the Celtics are still without Jayson Tatum, who is recovering from Achilles surgery, and Josh Minott, who is sidelined with an ankle sprain.
The Celtics have shown resilience, currently holding a record of 28-16, placing them second in the Eastern Conference and riding a two-game winning streak. They previously defeated the Bulls 115-101 in early January, thanks to Anfernee Simons’ standout performance of 27 points. The Bulls, however, have their momentum, winning three straight games and sporting a 22-22 record as they aim for a play-in spot in the playoffs. Notably, the Bulls will miss key players, including Noa Essengue, Zach Collins, and Tre Jones.
As both teams face their respective challenges, this game has the potential for an exciting clash as the Celtics seek to build upon their successful run in the season.