The Boston Celtics will enter Friday’s matchup at TD Garden without All-Star forward Jayson Tatum, who remains sidelined following right Achilles repair. Alongside Tatum, two-way player Max Shulga and Amari Williams, currently on G League assignment, are also unavailable.
Brooklyn Nets will be missing several players from their G League affiliate, including Tyson Etienne, Chaney Johnson, and E.J. Liddell. Drake Powell is also out while on assignment, forcing the team to rely heavily on their main rotation.
The Nets are struggling with a six-game losing streak, including losses to the Spurs (110-126) and Mavericks (114-123). Michael Porter Jr. leads the team in scoring at 24.6 points per game, while Nic Claxton contributes 12.6 points and 7.2 rebounds.
Boston is positioned second in the Eastern Conference with a 38-20 record but dropped their latest game to the Denver Nuggets, 84-103. Jaylen Brown averages 29.1 points and 7.1 rebounds, while Derrick White adds 17.1 points and 5.7 assists per contest.
The Celtics and Nets have split their previous three meetings this season. Boston secured wins in two games, including a 126-130 double-overtime thriller on January 23, 2026, while Brooklyn claimed a 113-105 victory on November 21, 2025.
