Celtics, Clippers Face Off With Depleted Rosters in Key NBA Matchup

LOS ANGELES — The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers will face off Wednesday night at the Intuit Dome with both teams missing key players due to injuries. The Celtics ruled out Al Horford (toe), Kristaps Porzingis (illness), and Jrue Holiday (shoulder) hours before tip-off, while the Clippers sidelined their entire starting lineup, including Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.

The Celtics’ absences come during a grueling stretch of five games in seven nights, prompting the team to exercise caution. Porzingis was a late addition to the injury report Wednesday morning, but the team does not consider the injuries serious. Meanwhile, the Clippers, who are playing four games in five nights, opted to rest their starters, including Nicolas Batum, Ivica Zubac, Kris Dunn, and Norman Powell.

Despite their 24-18 record, the Clippers will rely on a skeleton crew against the Celtics, who hold a significant talent advantage even without their three rotation players. Boston enters the game fresh off a 40-point blowout victory over the Golden State Warriors and aims to improve to 2-0 on their road trip.

“It’s a tough stretch for both teams,” said Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla. “We have to focus on what we can control and make the most of the situation.” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue echoed the sentiment, stating, “We’re prioritizing health and longevity over one game.”

The matchup, originally anticipated as a clash between two playoff contenders, now serves as a test of depth for both squads. The Celtics, leading the Eastern Conference, will look to capitalize on the Clippers’ depleted roster, while Los Angeles aims to avoid falling further in the competitive Western Conference standings.