Final: Celtics 107, Rockets 97- C's get first win

Game 3: Celtics vs. Rockets
Toyota Center
7:00 PM, NBC Sports Boston, NBA TV

PROJECTED STARTERS

Boston: Marcus Smart, Dennis Schröder, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Robert Williams

Houston: Jalen Green, Kevin Porter, Jr., Jae’Sean Tate, Christian Wood, Daniel Theis

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

- The Celtics are without Jaylen Brown (left knee soreness) and Romeo Langford (left calf tightness). The Rockets are missing John Wall.

- Horford's minutes restriction is being raised from 25 to 30

GOING A LITTLE DEEPER

- The Celtics are hoping Brown’s knee issue is minor, but they’re not taking any chances since it’s the same knee that bothered him last season. 

“Obviously being out with COVID for that time, coming back and playing in those two games he felt a little something last game, so just want to be cautious with it,” Ime Udoka said. “Got a back to back coming up, so get him an extra day or rest and hopefully he'll be good to go tomorrow. But we'll see. He felt it a little bit in the game against Toronto. Tried to rest it and thought he'd be able to go, and then this morning he didn't feel great.”

This is a little concerning, especially since Brown came back into the season a little lighter and saying he felt pretty good. It’s not a surprise that Brown was sore considering his first game back after the long COVID absence was a 46 minute, double overtime game. We can play the hindsight game here and question whether that was worth it.

“He built himself up, worked out hard to get ready for New York opening night,” Udoka said.