INJURY UPDATE: 4 starters listed for Bulls game Saturday…

Five players, including four starters for Saturday night’s United Center game against the Bulls, are listed as injured

for the Celtics. Due to a shoulder sprain, Jrue Holiday will miss his fourth straight game. In the second half of the

back-to-back, Jaylen Brown (ankle injury management) and Kristaps Porzingis (hamstring injury management) will

rest.

Both Jayson Tatum (ankle) and Al Horford (toe sprain) missed Friday’s victory over the Pistons in order to receive

more rest, and their status has been upgraded to questionable. On Saturday night, Boston will try to defeat the Bulls

for the ninth time in a row, including the fifth time on the road.

With Brown, Holiday, and Porzingis out, Payton Pritchard should receive another spot start. If Tatum and Horford

suit up, Sam Hauser, Xavier Tillman, and Luke Kornet will all be contenders for the final berth.

Zach LaVine and Julian Phillips will be part of the Bulls’ rotation. Coby White (hip) and Alex Caruso (ankle) are

expected to compete. If Boston wins on Saturday night, they will aim to sweep the season series.

Despite a variety of injuries, the Celtics finished the second half of the season with a 19-2 record in their last 21

games. With a victory over the Bulls on Saturday night and a Bucks loss to the Thunder at home on Sunday, they will

have secured the top seed in the Eastern Conference thanks to their impressive run.