The Boston Celtics may need to prepare extra ice packs for their upcoming road trip, and guard Jrue Holiday is ready for the challenge.
“Teams are challenging us,” Holiday said. “I think the game is becoming more physical, which is good. I think that’s a benefit for us where we can do the same.”
The Celtics will begin their four-game road trip with a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night in Minneapolis.
Boston is coming off a dominant 54-point win over the Toronto Raptors on New Year’s Eve, wrapping up an impressive 2024 calendar year for the defending NBA champions, who are focused on another title run in 2025.
However, a recent injury update could make Thursday’s game more difficult for the Celtics.
Forward Jaylen Brown is listed as questionable due to a right shoulder strain. Brown has been averaging 24.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.6 assists in 28 games this season.
Another forward, Kristaps Porzingis, is also questionable due to a sprained left ankle. Porzingis has missed three consecutive games and is averaging 18.3 points and 6.4 rebounds in 11 starts.
Minnesota also has a couple of injured players, but none are regular starters. Rookie guard Rob Dillingham is out with a right ankle sprain, and backup big man Luka Garza is also out due to a left ankle sprain, which has kept him out for the last six games.
The Timberwolves are led by Anthony Edwards, who averages 24.8 points per game on 44.3 percent shooting. Julius Randle is second on the team with 19.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.
Minnesota’s head coach, Chris Finch, is most concerned about turnovers. He said his team was careless with the ball, committing 23 turnovers in their latest game, a 113-105 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday.
“If we don’t turn the ball over, we can control this game,” Finch said. “No doubt about it.”
One player who is back for Boston is Holiday, who returned to action on Tuesday after missing three games due to a shoulder injury. He scored 14 points, making 4 of 5 shots from three-point range.
Holiday joked that the shoulder injury might have actually helped improve his shooting.
“Maybe the hit is what helped it,” Holiday said. “Maybe it got my shoulder in line.”
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla has recently urged the team to be more aggressive on defense.
Holiday said this challenge suits his style of play.
“I think it’s just about being active and using your instincts,” Holiday said. “That’s something that I always like to do — think the game, especially on the defensive end. Be able to get deflections, start the break and things like that. It’s definitely fun for me, being more active.”
This will be the second and final meeting between the two teams this season. Boston won the first game 107-105 at home on November 24.
Brown led the Celtics with 29 points in that game. Jayson Tatum added 26 points and eight rebounds, while Derrick White contributed 19 points and nine rebounds.
For Minnesota, Edwards scored 28 points with nine rebounds and seven assists. Randle added 23 points, and Rudy Gobert had 10 points and 20 rebounds.
