MINNEAPOLIS — The Celtics will begin their four-game road trip without two key starters in the lineup on Thursday night. Boston downgraded Jaylen Brown (shoulder) and Kristaps Porzingis (ankle sprain) to out two hours before tipoff against the Timberwolves. Both players had originally been listed as questionable.
It will be the fourth straight missed game for Porzingis who suffered a left ankle sprain on Christmas Day against the 76ers. The Celtics big man indicated at Boston’s shootaround on Thursday morning that he was getting closer to a return. Porzingis has dealt with ankle injuries three times in the past month since returning from offseason surgery.
“I’m not going to lie,” Porzingis told reporters in Minnesota. “It’s super annoying, super frustrating to not be able to catch a good rhythm and already, boom, some small thing happens and you’re out for a couple games. Just to be dealing with this. It’s part of the life we choose. My body is obviously very particular, so these things can happen to me.”
With the Celtics playing a back-to-back on Thursday and Friday in Houston, it’s likely that Porzingis would only have been active for one game, keeping the door open for him playing in Houston on Friday night.
Brown did not speak with reporters after playing 25 minutes in the Celtics blowout win on Tuesday but was seen in the fourth quarter wearing a shoulder wrap. Brown missed some time back in November with a hip flexor but has played 28 games overall.
Without Porzingis and Brown available, the Celtics will likely start Al Horford and Sam Hauser in their place. Luke Kornet or Neemias Queta should see a bigger role off the bench at center while second-year wing Jordan Walsh will see a boost in his playing time off the bench.
The Celtics and Wolves will tip off at 7:30 p.m. in a nationally televised showdown on TNT.
