Analysis: Kyrie Irving out for Knicks game with bruised quad

The Celtics will be missing their top two points guards on Wednesday night, as the team announced this afternoon Kyrie Irving will be held out against the Knicks to rest a bruised quad. Marcus Smart remains out due to a hand laceration.

The All-Star suffered the injury during Monday's win over the Nuggets when he took a knee from Nuggets guard Jamal Murray.

"I wanted a flag thrown on the play for targeting," Irving said after the game. "I really did. He came out and he showed a little bit, and he caught me right in that sweet spot in the middle of my quad. It’ll be bruised for a little bit but who cares.”

Brad Stevens told Zolak and Bertrand in his weekly interview on the Sports Hub that the injury would be re-assessed later this week.

"He got hit in the quad pretty good," Stevens said. "He was able to finish the game and it tightened up yesterday. It didn't feel any better today. He was getting treatment at the facility today."

BSJ Analysis

The Celtics had better hope Terry Rozier's sprained ankle is feeling good since he's in line for his first career start and big minutes at point guard. He may have some help in the form of Shane Larkin (questionable with sore right knee), who missed Monday's win over the Nuggets, but the onus will be on Rozier to step up and run the show for most of the night. Two-way guard Kadeem Allen is also with the team and could see some spot minutes as well at reserve guard, particularly if Larkin can't go. He's played well with the Maine Red Claws so it'd be interesting to see how he fares with meaningful minutes in Boston.

Otherwise, the Celtics will spend much of their night going big, much like they did against the Nuggets on Monday night. That actually lines up well from a matchup standpoint as the Knicks go big a lot at multiple positions with Kanter, Porzingis, Beasley, etc. the frontcourt. Marcus Morris, Daniel Theis, and Semi Ojeleye should all see 20-plus minutes tonight as C's try to take down the Knicks at home for their second straight win. The challenge will purely lie with the Celtics offense though as Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the team's other offensive creators will need big nights to fill the Irving void.