MILWAUKEE — The Celtics could be without Mitchell Robinson on Sunday night when they face the Milwaukee Bucks. Robinson was a late addition to the injury report, listed as questionable with an illness earlier Sunday afternooon.
Robinson is coming off the best stretch of his season; he tallied a season-high 10 rebounds in 20 minutes against the Bucks on Wednesday, and followed that up with a 7-rebound, 6-point performance against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday.
Luka Garza could see increased minutes on Sunday
If Robinson sits, it would likely mean
more opportunity for Luka Garza, who is averaging 7.3 points and 3.7 rebounds in 13.2 minutes off the bench this season. Garza is shooting a career-best 54.2% from the three-point line.
Garza has seen increased opportunities with the double-big lineup, typically playing alongside Robinson. Garza said he hasn’t played much double-big in the NBA, but he has experience playing the 4 from college and with the Bosnian national team.
“It just gives me another avenue to get on the floor, especially with the bigs that we have and the depth that we have,” Garza said at Celtics shootaround on Sunday morning. “So for me, it’s something I’m going to commit to and buy into trying to be the most effective at that position.”
Neemias Queta continues to lead the Celtics’ big men
The Celtics’ most popular starting lineup this season has been Derrick White, Jordan Walsh, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, and Neemias Queta. That group started Friday night in a 119-80 thrashing of the Hornets.
Neemias Queta, who came off the bench in the first five games of the season, has become a regular starter for Boston. Queta is averaging 9.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, while shooting 56.6% from the field.
The last time the Celtics and Bucks met was Wednesday, and the Celtics won 109-102 as Jayson Tatum got a rest game. Paul George led the way with 25 points, while Derrick White added 24 points. The Bucks rallied back from a 22-point deficit to take a fourth-quarter lead behind 25 points from Tyler Herro and 18 points from Jaime Jaquez Jr.
The Celtics enter the game with a 7-2 record; the Buckers are 1-7.
