The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers have finally gotten a sense of how their respective front lines will look in tonight’s clash (8 ET, TNT).
Celtics forward Gordon Hayward was listed as probable by the team after he suffered a hit to the face in Wednesday’s 122-117 loss to the Indiana Pacers. His injury occurred with 6 minutes, 28 seconds left in the game as he was driving to the rim. He was inadvertently struck in the nose by the base of the palm from Pacers forward Doug McDermott’s hand.
Update: Hayward is available, the team says.
For the Sixers, big man Al Horford will miss his first game back in Boston since leaving the team as a free agent last summer. Horford has been dealing with left knee soreness and left hamstring tightness, per the Sixers.
Al Horford is OUT for Sixers-Celtics tonight
This would’ve been Horford’s first game back in TD Garden since signing with the Sixers pic.twitter.com/IbMdL5mQyk
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) December 13, 2019
Al Horford explains why he will not play tonight. pic.twitter.com/JXqcFDVKf4
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) December 13, 2019
Horford played 30 minutes in the Sixers’ last game, a 97-92 win against the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday. Horford is averaging 13.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.9 apg, 1.1 spg and 1.0 bpg this season.
