The Boston Celtics and New York Knicks are set for their Game 2 matchup of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Knicks, currently holding a 1-0 lead, report a clean bill of health for all players. Meanwhile, the Celtics may be shorthanded.
Boston announced forward Sam Hauser is out with a sprained ankle. Center Kristaps Porzingis is available for action, but he will not be in his usual spot in the starting lineup; Al Horford will get the nod.
Hauser suffered a sprained ankle attempting to close out on an O.G. Anunoby three-point attempt in the third quarter of Game 1. His shooting ability will be missed, as the Celtics are looking for solutions to their three-point problem after missing a playoff record 45 three-pointers in Game 1.
Porzingis, while most likely on a minutes restriction, is still a welcome return for a Boston team in need of some firepower. His screen setting and the mismatches he creates on the court are invaluable.
Hauser and Porzingis led the Celtics in three-point percentage in the regular season, so their absence in Game 1 was most definitely felt. It will be on the team's stars, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White, to pick up the slack in shooting volume.
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While it's not likely the Celtics shoot as poorly from long range as they did Monday night, they still will need to make a concerted effort to perform better in that facet of the game, especially since they're not at full strength.
Hitting just one of those 45 missed long-range jumpers would've resulted in double overtime, and they could have been the ones holding the 1-0 lead right now.
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