Celtics injury report: Key bench guard listed for Cavaliers game

Payton Pritchard

In what should be one of the more highly-anticipated matchups in mid-November, the reigning champion Celtics take on the undefeated Cavaliers at 7 p.m. Tuesday at TD Garden. The C’s will be close to full strength based on the injury report.

Payton Pritchard is listed as questionable with a left thumb sprain. Kristaps Porzingis continues to be out due to surgery rehab, though the team announced a promising update Monday.

The Cavaliers roll into Tuesday’s game with a perfect 15-0 record. Tuesday is also an NBA Cup game, so considering the Celtics already lost to the Hawks, they’ll need to beat the Cavs to have any shot at the knockout stages. Cleveland has dominated opponents this year, coming in with the second-best net rating in the league, only trailing the Thunder. The C’s are currently fourth in net rating.

Cleveland has multiple role players listed on its injury report. Max Strus (right ankle sprain) and Dean Wade (left ankle sprain) are both listed as out. Caris LeVert (left knee), Sam Merrill (left ankle) and Isaac Okoro (left ankle) are all listed as questionable. Notably, Donovan Mitchell isn’t listed on the injury report after missing Sunday’s game for rest, so the Cavs star should be all ready to go after the night off.

Tuesday’s game is also a rematch of the East semifinals last year, where the Celtics beat the Cavs in five games. Cleveland won Game 2 on Boston’s home court, but then the C’s ripped off three straight wins to close the series. Mitchell was unavailable for the final two games of that series due to injury, along with big man Jarrett Allen’s absence that series. Naturally, the Cavs are going to have this game circled on the calendar.

If Pritchard is unavailable to go, that’ll be a big blow as he’s had a hot start to the season. Pritchard is averaging 15.5 points per game off the bench as he’s a contender for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year if he can keep up his current pace.

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