Final: Warriors 111, Celtics 107 - C's come back but don't have enough to get past Warriors

Game 29
Boston Celtics (14-14, 7-4 home, T-9th East) vs. Golden State Warriors (23-5, 9-3 road, T-1 West)
TD Garden
7:30 - ESPN, NBC Sports Boston

PROBABLE STARTERS

Boston: Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Romeo Langford, Robert Williams

Golden State: Steph Curry, Damion Lee, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Kevon Looney

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

- COVID is rampaging through the NBA, and now it’s biting Boston. Jabari Parker went into Health and Safety Protocols yesterday, and it’s been an avalanche since then. Al Horford, Grant Williams, Juancho Hernangomez, and Sam Hauser have now joined him. On top of that Dennis Schroder is out with a non-COVID illness. Two-way player Brodric Thomas has been called up to help fill one of the spots. 

- Jordan Poole (Health and Safety Protocols) is out for Golden State. Klay Thompson (Achilles tendon recovery) and James Wiseman (right knee injury recovery) have been out all season.

- Golden State is favored by 5

GOING A LITTLE DEEPER

The Celtics are hardly alone in being hit by COVID, but the sudden spike is incredible. It’s moving so quickly that the Brooklyn Nets, maybe the most impacted team in the league right now, will allow Kyrie Irving to play again even though he’s only available for road games. 

If there's any silver lining for Boston on the court, it’s that three of the six players out don’t factor too heavily in the rotation, and the impact on the game plan is less than it would be against other teams. 

“Tonight is a night where we can play a lot of small ball anyway,” Ime Udoka said. “Josh (Richardson), Aaron (Nesmith), Romeo will get increased minutes and things we've done all year, tinkered with lineups and going small at times, it fits with Golden State tonight. Not to downplay the guys that are out but it's something we can easily adjust to.”

Udoka says despite the sudden spike, the Celtics have 11 healthy bodies, which puts them a better position than some other teams.

“It’s something everybody is playing through,” he said. “You’ve seen Chicago, and Brooklyn and other teams hit with that. It’s something we’ve been trying to avoid, but it seems inevitable at times for everybody. You have to tinker with the lineups at times, but we have other guys who are able and we’ll increase those minutes. Nothing else you can do.”

THREE THINGS TO WATCH FOR

1. Bench contribution: With six guys out, including two important bench players, it’ll be up to Nesmith, Payton Pritchard, and even Thomas and Bruno Fernando to make some kind of impact on this game. Udoka could try riding his starters for longer, but there's also a game tomorrow night, which makes things even more difficult. Some guys are going to be pressed into service. This is their chance to show something.

2. Golden State letdown: Steph Curry has been chasing this record all season and setting it in New York was a big emotional event. They’ve had a couple of days off to readjust, but this is prime letdown territory … or at least slow start territory. If the Dubs do start slow, Boston has to take advantage and build a big lead that will serve as pad for the Warriors run later.

3. Attacking the middle: The Warriors obviously defend very well, but there is room up the middle to attack. Tatum did a wonderful job against Milwaukee, he can do it again against Golden State. He and Brown should be in attack mode from the start and avoid getting sucked into a 3-point challenge with Curry. 

GAME THREAD

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