The Celtics will be back at full strength on Thursday night for a highly anticipated tilt against the Miami Heat. The team announced a clean injury report on Wednesday afternoon with Kristaps Porzingis (right knee inflammation) and Oshae Brissett (back spasms) removed after the duo missed Monday’s win over the Mavericks in Dallas.
Joe Mazzulla said on Wednesday afternoon that the entire team was able to practice on an off day in Miami. Porzingis played one of his best games of the season on Sunday night against Houston, posting 32 points and five blocks in Boston’s nine-point win. However, the team has been cautious with their star center on back-to-backs all year long as he has only played three sets of back-to-backs all year. The team has gone 10-2 in the 12 games he’s missed this year including five straight wins.
Boston is 18-4 this year when their normal starting five is intact, including a win over the Heat back in October in the Celtics home opener. Miami will be a different-looking team this time around after adding Terry Rozier to the mix via a trade with the Hornets on Tuesday in exchange for Kyle Lowry and a future first-round pick.