December 31, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jrue Vacation (4) questions a call with referee Evan Scott during the second half against the Toronto Raptors at TD Backyard. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Photos
The Boston Celtics may need to provide extra ice packs for their next road trip, and guard Jrue Vacation is perfectly fine with that.
“The teams are challenging us,” Vacation said. “I think the game is getting more physical, which is good. “I think it’s a benefit for us because we can do the same thing.”
Boston will open its four-game road trip with a matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night in Minneapolis.
The Celtics are coming off a 54-point rout of the Toronto Raptors on New Year’s Eve. The victory capped an incredible 2024 calendar year for the defending NBA champion, who once again has title aspirations as he turns his attention to 2025.
A late addition to the injury report could make the Celtics’ task more challenging on Thursday.
Celtics forward Jaylen Brown is listed as questionable to play due to a right shoulder strain. Brown is averaging 24.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 28 starts this season.
Celtics forward Kristaps Porzingis is also listed as questionable due to a sprained left ankle. Porzingis, who has missed three straight games due to the injury, is averaging 18.3 points and 6.4 rebounds in 11 starts.
Minnesota also has a couple of injured players, but none who normally occupy the starting lineup. Rookie guard Rob Dillingham is out for Thursday’s game with a sprained right ankle, and reserve center Luka Garza has also been ruled out with a sprained left ankle, which has sidelined him for the last few games. six games.
Anthony Edwards leads the Timberwolves with 24.8 points per game on 44.3 percent shooting. Julius Randle is second with 19.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch is more concerned about another statistic: turnovers. He said his team was too careless with the ball (23 turnovers) in its last game, a 113-105 loss to the host Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Tuesday.
“If we don’t turn the ball over, we can control this game,” Finch said. “There is no doubt about it.”
One player who has returned to Boston’s lineup is Vacation, who returned Tuesday after a three-game absence due to a shoulder injury. He finished with 14 points and was 4 of 5 from beyond the arc.
Vacation joked that the source of his shoulder injury could have fixed his three-point shot.
“Maybe the hit was what helped,” Vacation said. “Maybe it put my shoulder on the line.”
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla recently challenged his team to be more active on defense.
Vacation said that fits well with his basketball personality.
“I think it’s just about being active and using your instincts,” Vacation said. “That’s something I always like to do: think about the game, especially on the defensive end. Being able to deflect, initiate the counterattack and things like that. “It’s definitely fun for me to be more active.”
This is the second and final matchup of the regular season between the teams. Boston won the first game 107-105 at home on November 24.
Brown led the Celtics with 29 points in that game. Jayson Tatum added 26 points and eight rebounds, and Derrick White contributed 19 points and nine rebounds.
Edwards finished with 28 points, nine rebounds and seven assists against Boston. Randle added 23 points and Rudy Gobert had 10 points and 20 rebounds.
–Media at field level
