BOSTON — Neemias Queta is finally taking a night off to deal with a non-COVID illness that’s been bothering him since Friday. Queta has been on the injury report since the Celtics’ game against the Brooklyn Nets, but he’s nonetheless played in all three of the team’s most recent contests.
The Celtics center has averaged 10 points and 8 rebounds on 64.4% shooting in 24.9 minutes per game this season. But his numbers have dipped while he’s battled illness; over the past three games, Queta has averaged just
5.3 points and 4 rebounds a night.
Luka Garza missed Monday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers with illness, but is back in the lineup on Wednesday. Garza is averaging 7.6 points and 4.2 rebounds in 16.5 minutes per game, while shooting 58.6% from the field and 45.5% from three.
Garza will undoubtedly shoulder a bigger load when the Celtics and Hawks face off on Wednesday. And, so could two-way rookie Amari Williams, who has appeared in 11 games for the Celtics and is coming off a career-high 26 minutes on Monday. Williams’ 9 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks all marked career highs.
“I thought Amari did a great job today,” Jaylen Brown said on Monday. “I thought he looked exceptional. He came out, protected the rim, and was where he was supposed to be for the most part. Amari made it easy for us tonight, but any given night — depending on how the team is playing us — that communication has to be great.”
Outside of Queta, the only other player on the Celtics’ injury report is Jayson Tatum, who continues to rehab a torn Achilles. (Josh Minott, who missed three weeks with an ankle sprain, is off the injury report, but was nevertheless a DNP on Monday night.
For the Hawks, Kristaps Porzingis (left Achilles tendonitis), Zaccharie Risacher (left knee bone contusion), and N’Faly Dante (right knee torn ACL) are out. Porzingis did not travel with the team to Boston, per CLNS’s Bobby Manning.
Celtics-Hawks tips off at 7:30pm at TD Garden.
