The 41-19 Boston Celtics hope to get back on track against the 17-44 Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday night after dropping games to the Houston Rockets and Brooklyn Nets over the last week.
That is, if they can field enough healthy players to do it.
Starting point guard Kemba Walker returned to action under a minutes restriction in the team’s Mar. 3rd loss to the Nets, and did not travel with Boston to Cleveland as he’s still not cleared to play back-to-back games.
To make matters worse, both forward Gordon Hayward (knee) and shooting guard Jaylen Brown (hamstring) were injured in the 129-120 overtime loss, and All-Star forward Jayson Tatum (illness) and reserve guard Javonte Green (ankle) are on the injury list as well — though mercifully as probable to play.
The Hospital Celtics aren’t the only outfit walking wounded into Wednesday night’s contest, though — the Cavs are reeling themselves from an assortment of injuries.
Starting center Andre Drummond (calf) and point guard Darius Garland (groin) join reserve guards Dylan Windler (leg) and Dante Exum (ankle) as scratches for the tilt, and big man Tristan Thompson (knee) is questionable as well.
Even if healthy, the Cavs would be the underdog in the contest, owning the league’s fourth-worst record, a three-game losing streak and just four wins over their previous ten games.
Conversely, Boston — despite the recent spate of losses — has won six of their last ten contests, and sit firmly in third place in the East.
As a result, online sportsbooks favor the Celtics with a -3 spread, which Boston should easily meet even in their banged-up form of the moment.
