Boston

Celtics

This will be a sixth straight absence for Minott with no end in sight. Sam Hauser and Jordan Walsh may take on a few extra minutes with Minott out, but he had practically fallen out of the rotation prior to this string of absences.

Pritchard is expected to miss a game for the first time this season. Anfernee Simons, who scored 39 points against Miami on Thursday, should enter the starting lineup and could be in for another big night in a larger role.

Simons went full supernova in this one, spearheading Boston’s late-game rally as they erased a double-digit deficit to take the lead with just over five minutes left in regulation, scoring 18 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter alone. The 26-year-old scoring machine slashed to the rim with greater frequency than usual and knocked down 7-of-16 attempts from three-point range. He’s shown flashes of gargantuan scoring upside, but the simply volume hasn’t been there on a consistent enough basis in a limited role off the bench to make a significant fantasy impact. A performance like this shows exactly why he’s the perfect complementary option for Jaylen Brown as a secondary creator capable of carrying the offense for extended stretches.

Brown wasn’t exactly efficient in his return following a one-game absence due to lower back spasms but he came through with a couple key baskets late, pouring in 20 of his 27 points in the second half as the upstart Celtics pulled off an impressive comeback to erase a nearly 20-point deficit. He drained a clutch three-pointer with just over four minutes left in regulation and added a couple additional buckets down the home stretch. The 29-year-old franchise cornerstone has been phenomenal this season, averaging 29.4 points through 37 games, emerging as a legitimate MVP candidate.

Queta continues to be a revelation for the Celtics this season as he’s proven to be an effective rim protector and pick-and-roll threat for Boston’s revamped offense. The 26-year-old big man is averaging 10.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.2 blocks through 38 games, delivering eighth-round fantasy value during that span.

Brown is back after lower back spasms sidelined him for Monday’s loss to the Pacers. As a result, Baylor Scheierman heads to the bench, and the second-year guard could fall out of the rotation entirely. The other four starters are unchanged.

Minott will miss a fifth consecutive game with a sprained left ankle. His continued absence does not affect fantasy basketball, as he had fallen behind Jordan Walsh and Sam Hauser in the pecking order before the injury.

After sitting out Monday’s loss to the Pacers with lower back spasms, Brown is not on the injury report for Thursday. His return likely pushes Baylor Scheierman to the bench, with the second-year guard offering minimal production in his spot start.

Pritchard has scored at least 21 points in three of his last five games. The 27-year-old point guard led the Celtics in scoring Monday with Jaylen Brown out of the lineup. Pritchard has provided fourth-round per game value over the last two weeks. The Celtics are off until Thursday, when they take on the Heat in Miami.

The Celtics won’t have Jaylen Brown for Monday’s game, as he’s out with a lower back injury. His absence opens up a spot in the lineup for Hauser, who did not play in Saturday’s loss to the Spurs. The other change to the lineup is Scheierman, whose first start of the season comes at the expense of rookie Hugo González.