Boston

Celtics

Kornet didn’t play in Games 1 or 2 but appears poised to make his 2024 playoff debut this weekend. It’s unlikely that he’ll play a ton behind Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford, though.

Tatum couldn’t quite match his production from Game 1 but was second among all players with 28 points while his rebounding and assist numbers dropped from his previous outing. Poor shooting from the supporting cast and lackluster defense led to Boston’s downfall despite efficient nights from Tatum and Brown.

Brown got especially hot toward the end of the first half and topped Jayson Tatum in points while matching him in rebounds. His successful scoring night wasn’t enough to counteract Miami’s shot-making, though.

Boston shared the sugar in Game 1 and White was surprisingly only second to Jayson Tatum in points among Celtics. All their starters are showing that they’re threats to explode on any given night.

Tatum didn’t shoot particularly well from the field or beyond the arc but did a little bit of everything to stuff the stat sheet. He led all Celtics in points, rebounds, and assists.

Kornet had already been ruled out for Game 1 on Sunday after reportedly injuring his calf during a drill. However, with Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford healthy, Kornet will not see the floor in the playoffs much. Xavier Tillman will be the only depth center option available until Kornet returns.

Kornet’s absence for Sunday’s series opener will not significantly impact the Celtics rotation, as he’s the lone player on the injury report. Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford were already going to play most of the minutes at the center position. Xavier Tillman is the next player in line if the Celtics require additional depth.

Mykhailiuk was cooking in this one from the jump, dropping 15 points and three triples in the first half. He finished his first season in Boston with a career-low 10.1 minutes per game across 41 appearances, though he matched his career-high in scoring in the season finale. Boston rested all of its starters for this one, but the Celtics’ B-Squad led this one from whistle to whistle. The 26 points match his total against Toronto set on April 2, 2023, and the six three-pointers are a new career-high. Mykhailiuk is unlikely to see much run in the postseason, so Sunday’s performance will go down as a happy footnote to an otherwise forgettable campaign.

Pritchard came into this one riding high off of a 31-point performance and a new career-high in the scoring department set on Friday. He topped that performance with a new career-best in points and led all scorers in this lopsided affair. For the second straight season finale, Pritchard dropped at least 30 points and broke his own personal scoring record. To make this performance even sweeter, Pritchard posted a second straight double-double thanks to his work as Boston’s primary facilitator. The Oregon product has shined throughout his career when given the opportunity, but he typically doesn’t see enough minutes to make a significant impact in the box score. He balled out over the final month of the season while Boston built an insurmountable lead in the East and rested starters periodically. Pritchard appeared in all 82 games in 2023-24, and he finishes his fourth season with averages of 9.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.8 triples across 22.3 minutes. He is an elite backup guard who usually fills in admirably when called upon.

The Celtics are once again resting their top six players, as there is nothing for the team to play for regarding playoff positioning. Pritchard, Hauser, and Kornet remain the safest available options for fantasy, while Walsh will make his first official start as a Celtic. In a game like this, his defensive potential could shine through.