Fresh off a hard-fought and exhausting overtime loss to the Bucks in Milwaukee, the Celtics look to be getting some reinforcements in the form of two of their core players just in time for the second half of a back-to-back affair.
After an 11-game absence with an ankle injury, the Celtics confirmed the return of guard Marcus Smart for Wednesday night's home game vs. the Detroit Pistons. Also joining the lineup will be All-Star starter Jayson Tatum and veteran forward Al Horford. Tatum missed Tuesday night's OT loss with a non-COVID illness, while Horford had missed three of the previous four with a knee ailment. Smart, Tatum Jaylen Brown (facial fracture) and Horford were all absent in Milwaukee, a game the reserves played valiantly in, pushing the second-best team in the Eastern Conference to the brink in overtime.
The return of Smart, Tatum and Horford comes at the right time as depth continues to be tested for the Eastern Conference-leading Celtics. Not only will several players likely be playing on fumes Wednesday night, but also newly acquired big man Mike Muscala is listed as out, Robert Williams is listed as Questionable, and guard Derrick White is listed as probable after he remained behind in Milwaukee to see an ear specialist. He's experienced hearing difficulties in his left ear recently. White was the conference's player of the week last week and went off for another 27 Tuesday in Milwaukee.
This is the Celtics' final game before the All-Star break, as well as their final game of the season against the Pistons, against whom they are 3-0 on the season and a 12-point favorite at TD Garden Wednesday night.
