2 min read • January 12, 2022
Posted in
Three matchups on Wednesday night – Celtics vs Pacers, Nets vs Bulls, and Rockets vs Spurs – present health mismatches.
Celtics vs Pacers
Advantage: Celtics
The Pacers' disappointing season is in the middle of maybe its worst slump, and they will enter Wednesday's matchup without Malcolm Brogdon, Caris LeVert, T.J. Warren, T.J. McConnell, and potentially Chris Duarte.
Brogdon is dealing with lingering achilles soreness, and is questionable for the game, but he has missed the last 3 contests despite being listed as questionable beforehand.
The Celtics, in all their own dysfunction, are without only backup guard Payton Pritchard, and just beat the Pacers in Boston on Monday night.
Indiana has lost 8 of its last 9, including a 7-game losing streak, during which the Pacers only scored over 108 points once.
Rockets vs Spurs
Advantage: Rockets
The Spurs are one of the last teams to be hit with a COVID-19 outbreak, currently missing 4 of their top 7 players by minutes played and points per game: Keldon Johnson, Derrick White, Doug McDermott, and Devin Vassell.
Since the quartet was placed in health and safety protocols, San Antonio is 0-3 and has not shot higher than 41.3% from the field.
The Rockets recently got top scoring threats Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr., and Eric Gordon back from hamstring, thigh, and ankle issues, respectively.
Nets vs Bulls
Advantage: Nets
This will likely be the 2nd game we will see with the Brooklyn big 3 of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden. Irving returned to the team last Wednesday, but when he started in the Nets road win in Portland, Harden sat with a hyperextended left knee. Both he and Iriving are questionable for the game in Chicago, but neither injuries are considered serious, and they are closer to playing than not.
The Bulls, 27-11, are without 3 of the best perimeter defenders, Patrick Williams, Alex Caruso, and Javonte Green, putting more pressure on DeMar DeRozan and Zach Lavine to be dominant on both ends of the floor.
While the Nets are missing LaMarcus Aldridge with a foot injury and Joe Harris after ankle surgery in November, they have more than enough offense to counteract the losses.
Additionally, the Nets have been their best on the road, posting a 14-4 record away from Brooklyn.
Written by
