The Boston Celtics began their four-game road trip short-handed.
And as they gear up for the final game tonight against Utah, Boston’s roster will once again be without a key performer.
Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens said Al Horford will miss tonight’s game with an ankle sprain.
Horford has appeared in 67 games (all starts), averaging 12.8 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists while shooting 49.1 percent from the field and 43.5 percent from 3-point range.
Replacing him in the starting lineup will be rookie Guerschon Yabusele who will join Aron Baynes in the frontcourt with a perimeter group of starters that includes Terry Rozier, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
Yabusele has appeared in 28 games (one start), averaging 1.8 points and 1.4 rebounds per game this season.
Boston is already without Kyrie Irving (left knee) and Marcus Smart (right thumb) who will miss the rest of the regular season and in all likelihood will also miss some time in the playoffs.
Boston Celtics
Marcus Morris, who has been a key scorer for Boston with so many players out, told reporters earlier today that he was not going to play because of an ankle injury he re-aggravated in Boston’s win at Phoenix on Monday.
It is unclear how long he and Horford will be out, but neither injury appears to be one that would jeopardize their availability in the near future.
But there's still no guarantee that either player will return to action quickly.
Boston is closing in on securing no worse than the number two seed in the East. Once that’s accomplished, the Celtics may consider resting core guys like Horford and Morris to ensure they're well-rested for the postseason.
It’s a strategy that makes a lot of sense, especially when you consider the number of injuries that have afflicted the Celtics this season, beginning just five minutes into the opener at Cleveland on Oct. 17 when Gordon Hayward suffered a dislocated left ankle injury that has kept him out all season.
Boston is also trying to make up for the loss of Daniel Theis, who had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee that team officials have indicated will keep him out for the rest of the season, including the playoffs.