The Celtics will be down one reserve wing option when they host the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night.
Boston ruled out Josh Minott (left ankle sprain) for the matchup at TD Garden.
Minott started nine consecutive games early this season and was a staple in head coach Joe Mazzulla’s rotation from mid-November through mid-December, often playing as an undersized center in the Celtics’ smaller, more athletic secondary lineups. He’s on pace for career highs in points (6.3) and rebounds per game (4.0) and is shooting 43.8% from 3-point range.
But the recent reemergence of backup center Luka Garza, who’s posted strong numbers since reentering the rotation on Dec. 20, nudged Mazzulla away from small-ball lineups and pushed Minott to the end of the bench. The 23-year-old has logged just three garbage-time minutes over Boston’s last six games, sitting behind Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez and Baylor Scheierman on the wing depth chart.
The only other Celtics player listed on the team’s latest injury report was Jayson Tatum (out; Achilles), who has yet to suit up this season.
Denver’s was far lengthier — and headlined by one of the NBA’s best players, three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who is expected to miss the next several weeks with a knee injury. Jokic’s backup, veteran center Jonas Valanciunas, also will not play against Boston as he recovers from a calf strain, nor will forward Cameron Johnson (knee).
Jokic is leading the NBA in rebounds (12.2 per game) and assists (11.0) this season while averaging 29.6 points on 60.5% shooting.
Starters Jamal Murray (ankle), Aaron Gordon (hamstring) and Christian Braun (ankle) and reserve Tim Hardaway Jr. (illness) all are listed as questionable after sitting out Monday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Playing without those seven players, the Nuggets won 125-124 in overtime.
The Celtics, owners of the NBA’s third-best net rating as of Tuesday, moved into second place in the Eastern Conference by beating the Chicago Bulls 115-101 on Monday night. Denver ranks third in the West and boasts the league’s fifth-best net rating.
