The Celtics will be close to full strength for Thursday’s showdown against the Lakers at TD Garden. Boston announced on Wednesday that only backup center Luke Kornet (hamstring) remains on the injury report for Thursday’s matchup. He is listed as doubtful. Al Horford (sprained neck) was removed from the team’s injury report entirely after missing Tuesday’s win over the Pacers.
It could be the third straight missed game for Kornet who hurt his hamstring in a loss against the Clippers on Saturday night. However, Boston will be in much better shape to battle LeBron James and company with Horford back in the lineup. It will be the first time Boston’s top two bigs will be available for a game since last Thursday’s win against the Heat.
Porzingis made his return from a sprained ankle on Tuesday night, posting 17 points and 12 rebounds over 31 minutes in Boston’s five-point win. The Celtics needed that boost to hold off a late charge from the Paces in a five-point win.
“They turned it a little bit ugly and they made a good run and, and they played really hard and got into us,” Porzingis said Wednesday night. “They made it a tough game for us but we responded, especially our second unit, towards the end of third and beginning of the fourth, made a little good run. Then we just closed it out. This was a full team effort.”
Porzingis appeared to make it out of that return with no further physical issues and he should have a good chance to heal his ankle more in the next week with Boston having just two games total in the next six days.
The Lakers could be down a pair of their stars for Thursday’s matchup with LeBron James (ankle) and Anthony Davis (Achilles) listed as questionable for the contest. Cam Reddish and Gabe Vincent have already been ruled out.
The Celtics and Lakers will tip off in the nationally televised matchup on TNT at 7:30 p.m. ET Thursday night.
