BOSTON — The Celtics will be down two starters on Friday night against the Cavaliers but they are getting back some reinforcement for their tilt with the East’s best team as well. Boston upgraded All-Star forward Jaylen Brown to available about an hour before tip Friday night. Brown had missed Wednesday’s loss with a thigh contusion and was deemed questionable on the injury report.
Luke Kornet (personal reasons) was also upgraded to available after missing the last two games. He is likely to start alongside Al Horford with Kristaps Porzingis (illness) sidelined for the second game this week. Jrue Holiday has also been ruled out due to a mallet finger injury and is day-to-day according to Joe Mazzulla.
The shorthanded Celtics will be taking on a Cavs squad that is at full strength after Darius Garland was upgraded to available following a hip issue that had sidelined him for the past two games.
Boston currently holds a 2-1 edge in the season series vs. Cleveland ahead of what will be the regular season finale between the two squads. Boston is 6.5 games behind No. 1 seeded Cavs so they will have a lot of work to do to catch the Cleveland in the standings, who come into Boston riding a eight-game winning streak.
Boston had won six straight games before a blowout loss to the Pistons on Wednesday night.
The Celtics and Cavaliers tip off at 7:30 p.m. Friday in a nationally televised matchup on ESPN.
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