The Celtics return to TD Garden after a four-game road trip as they’ll face a familiar foe in the Rockets and ex-C’s coach Ime Udoka. They have two players listed on the injury report for the 7:30 p.m. Monday game.
Al Horford (left big toe sprain) and Derrick White (right shin contusion) are both questionable for Monday’s game. White was questionable ahead of the blowout Mavericks win for a knee issue, so the contusion injury is new. Horford could end up getting a rest day with his current injury designation.
The Celtics and Rockets will meet for the second time this month. Back on Jan. 3 in Houston, the C’s overwhelmed the Rockets in a 109-86 victory. The Rockets, though, are flying high as they’ve defeated the first-place Cavaliers over their past two games.
Houston has been a surprise this season after missing the playoffs last year. Udoka is in his second year leading the team as the Rockets are currently 30-14 on the season and tied for second in the West. They’re just a few wins away from the 32-14 Celtics, who are second in the East.
The Udoka angle is going to be a subplot whenever his team plays against the Celtics. He led the C’s to the 2022 NBA Finals in his lone season in Boston. His suspension-turned-dismissal is well-documented as both sides moved on afterwards, including with the C’s winning it all in 2024.
