Boston Celtics Game 2 Injury Report: Starting Lineups, Marcus Smart, Al Horford, & Derrick White’s Injury Status

Boston is one of the many teams that has been fighting injuries and the health and safety protocols due to the COVID-19 outbreak all season long. Unfortunately, in Game One, Boston was without Al Horford and Marcus Smart, two of its best defenders. The C’s struggles showed, allowing 118 points to the Heat on 49% from the field and a massive 41 points to Jimmy Butler. Butler carved up the C’s defense in the second half, and the Heat took advantage of the opportunity, scoring 39 points in the third quarter alone.

They held Boston to merely 14 points during the entire quarter on the other end of the floor, which is mindbogglingly low for a playoff team. Now, for Game Two, Boston faces further issues but will at least be able to return Marcus Smart and Al Horford to the lineup. Check out the odds implications of Horford and Smart’s return as well as Derrick White’s absence below!

Boston Celtics Injury Report

• Derrick White – Out (Personal)
• Al Horford – Probable (Health Protocols)
• Marcus Smart – Probable (Midfoot Sprain)

Al Horford and Derrick White Game Two Availability

After being reported “highly unlikely” to be available for Game Two, Al Horford has just been officially cleared to play in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals. Horford was listed as out not long before the start of Game One due to the league’s health and safety protocols but has since successfully cleared it. Horford has been absolutely essential to this team due to his leadership, experience, defense, and rebounding; he even has been shooting it well from deep in the postseason. Horford has averaged 13 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game during these playoffs on an incredible 52/45/83 shooting split. That is the type of efficiency that an average bench player cannot replace.

Meanwhile, Derrick White has surprisingly been listed as out due to the birth of his child. While the birth of his child was expected during the playoffs, it certainly is not ideal timing for the Boston Celtics, but that is how life goes sometimes. Luckily, Boston does have Payton Pritchard, who can fill in the gaps for this team on both ends of the floor. Pritchard will need to step up on defense because White does apply pressure on that end; he can do himself and others a massive favor by seamlessly fitting into these minutes in Game Two!

Boston Celtics Starting Lineup

PG Marcus Smart
SG Jaylen Brown
SF Jayson Tatum
PF Al Horford
C Robert Williams

Game 2 Celtics Vs. Heat Betting Odds Impact

The line opened right around four in favor of the home team Miami Heat. The odds slowly tightened once Marcus Smart was listed as probable, getting to approximately 3.5 points. Al Horford was extremely unlikely to play due to some reports, so the odds were taking that into account. Then, Horford cleared the health and safety protocols, and his return made a difference, further tightening the line to two points. It would likely be even closer to a pick’em if Derrick White were available, but he was just listed as out due to a personal matter. Still, if you were able to grab the Celtics against the spread before Horford was listed as available, there is a tremendous amount of value there.