More on Al Horford Injury
Chris Forsberg: Brad Stevens said Jaylen Brown is out with back spasms that flared this morning before shootaround. Says it’s not a long-term concern, expects him back in “couple days." Al Horford will play.
Chris Forsberg: Only player on injury report for Celtics vs Miami is Al Horford (knee soreness, probable). Should be at full strength against Heat.
Joe Vardon: Jayson Tatum and Al Horford will play for the Celtics tonight, Brad Stevens said
Chris Grenham: Celtics officially announce that Baynes and Hayward are available tonight.
Sean Grande: Al Horford is fine, his issue Saturday was an "anomaly" according to Brad Stevens.
Chris Grenham: Gordon Hayward is officially out tonight due to the concussion protocol. Robert Williams is sick and also out, while Al Horford is available, per the team.
John Karalis: Celtics announce Gordon Hayward is now in the NBA Concussion Protocol and it doubtful vs. Denver. Al Horford is probable with a sore level knee. Robert Williams is sick and listed as questionable
Adam Himmelsbach: Stevens said Horford will miss 3 or 4 games over the final 12 for precautionary reasons.
Jared Weiss: Stevens says Horford’s knee felt off coming into the game and that’s why he went back to the locker room. But Horford said it felt better later in the game.
Jay King: Al Horford said his knee felt good tonight. Called the time off “very helpful.” “It’s just good to be back. Sitting on the sidelines is tough.”
Jay King: Brad Stevens on Al Horford: “You take a lot of comfort out of having him on the floor. It’s nice to have him back.”
Jared Weiss: Stevens says Al Horford was on a 20 minute limit tonight.
Scott Souza: Al Horford and Marcus Morris both officially back in #Celtics starting lineup tonight. Gordon Hayward & Semi Ojeleye coming off the bench.
Matt Velazquez: Brad Stevens confirms Al Horford, Marcus Morris and Aron Baynes are all out tonight. Those three have all spent time guarding Giannis in the past, leaving Semi Ojeleye as one of the only C’s left with experience regularly covering him. Should make things interesting tonight.
Mark Murphy: Horford will miss his fifth straight game tonight due to patellar tendinitis. According to Stevens, Horford's next test will come during Tuesday's practice.
Jared Weiss: Al Horford and Yabu remain out tonight per Celtics.
Scott Souza: #Celtics coach Brad Stevens on Al Horford's potential return from patellofemoral pain syndrome: There is a target time frame but we’re not going to really talk about it. Because we don’t necessarily want to be quick in this. We’ve got to be right in this.
Boston Celtics center Al Horford will miss "at least a few games" after being diagnosed with patellofemoral pain syndrome in his left knee, coach Brad Stevens said Wednesday. The Celtics also said Gordon Hayward, who has been dealing with an illness, won't play Wednesday night against the Washington Wizards. The 32-year-old Horford, who is averaging 12.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game for the Celtics this season, has missed the past two games after a 19-point, 12-rebound performance against the New York Knicks on Thursday. "This is one of those things that it just wasn't getting better," Horford said, according to the Celtics' official Twitter account.
Tom Westerholm: The Celtics’ injury report for Washington includes Baynes and Horford (both questionable) and Hayward (doubtful with his illness). No Kyrie, however, which is a good sign.
Scott Souza: #Celtics Al Horford said he's been dealing with knee issue about a month, but it flared up after Knicks game on Thursday. Said he tested it today but it's still not where he needs to be to play.
Scott Souza: #Celtics Al Horford said professional in him wanted to be out with team tonight w/ C's shorthanded, but added it's best to be cautious. Horford still talking "days" more than longer when talking about returning from patella tendinitis.
Brian Robb: Al Horford has patellar tendinitis. Team could take it slow with his return according to Brad Stevens.
Scott Souza: #Celtics Brad Stevens: Al Horford OUT tonight; Aron Baynes better but not enough to play; no high ankle sprain for Guerschon Yabusele, but will be out a couple of weeks.
Tom Westerholm: No Al Horford and no Gordon Hayward tonight, per the Celtics.
Sean Grande: Aron Baynes and Al Horford questionable, Guerschon Yabusele out tomorrow against New Orleans. The Pelicans about to tip off in Detroit, front-end of a back-to-back.
Mark Murphy: Al Horford says he won't play tonight.
Mark Murphy: Horford rode an exercise bike and then tried to warm up on the court, but said his left knee was too sore. An MRI taken of the knee recently was negative. "No structural damage," he said.
Tom Westerholm: Lengthy injury list for the Celtics tonight, which includes Gordon Hayward (out with ankle soreness) and Terry Rozier (questionable with knee soreness). Looks like Al Horford is good to go.
Jay King: Al Horford has a sprained wrist. Doesn’t sound like it’ll force him to miss any real games, but he’s out tonight.
Adam Himmelsbach: Cs say Al Horford is sitting out tonight due to a sprained right wrist.
Sean Grande: Marcus Morris and Al Horford will both return tonight. Jaylen Brown (toe) will play. Shane Larkin (ill) is out.
Abby Chin: #Celtics announce Al Horford is out for tonight’s game against the #Pacers because of illness. So, no Jaylen and no Al.
A. Sherrod Blakely: Al Horford expects to play tomorrow night vs the #Warriors.
Chris Mannix: Al Horford out tonight vs. the Clippers. Brad Stevens says he does not have a concussion, but team wants to "observe him" for a couple of days.
Jay King: Al Horford's here at Staples Center despite being out tonight. PR requested no camera lights during his pregame interview.
Brian Robb: Horford said left knee is the issue. Hurt it last night, wasn't sure which play. He says he's day to day.
Sean Grande: Al Horford is back. The "regular" Irving, Brown, Tatum, Horford, Baynes starting lineup tonight against Utah.
Steve Bulpett: Horford says he's playing tonight.
Chris Forsberg: Al Horford (concussion) has been upgraded to probable vs. Toronto.
Sean Grande: Unless something happens in warmups. Jayson Tatum will play tonight. Al Horford is out. So, there you go.
A. Sherrod Blakely: Danny Ainge said Al Horford’s current concussion doesn’t appear to be as bad as the one that sidelined him for nine games last season.
A. Sherrod Blakely: BREAKING NEWS: Al Horford (concussion) will miss tonight’s game vs. the Los Angeles Lakers.
After the Celtics lost to the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals, Ainge said that Horford had been playing through nagging elbow pain since suffering a sprain in March. The forward says he feels better now, though, and is looking forward to starting this possibility-filled season. “I’m doing good,” Horford said. “The time off always helps. I’m doing well, just working. I’m trying to get better, get stronger.”
Marc D'Amico: #NEBHInjuryReport: Avery Bradley (hamstring) returns tonight, but Al Horford (elbow) and Jonas Jerebko (flu) are out.
Jay King: Horford should be back "sooner rather than later," per Stevens. But still no timeline. He's supposed to shoot for first time today.
Adam Himmelsbach: Al Horford says he doesn't have a timetable for his return. Hurt elbow blocking a shot vS LAL and is getting around-the-clock treatment.
A. Sherrod Blakely: Al Horford (groin) back in starting lineup tonight for the @Celtics. Avery Bradley still out, may be back for Wednesday game.
Gary Washburn: Al Horford is OUT tonight with his strained groin. Did not make trip. #Celtics #Bucks.
Adam Himmelsbach: Al Horford (groin) is out. Probable for tomorrow.
During an exclusive interview with CSNNE.com, Horford opened up about how dealing with a concussion has been an eye-opening experience on many levels. “It’s definitely tough,” he told me just prior to Friday’s game. “This whole time in general has been hard for me. Just because I’m learning like everybody else is about having a concussion. I never thought it was something that, that serious. But now I’m finding out. It’s really made me be more patient; I have to be.”
Kyle Draper: #Celtics coach Brad Stevens says Jae Crowder and Al Horford will not play tonight vs #Warriors. Al and Jae will go on trip
Jeff Goodman: Celtics forward Al Horford will be a game-time decision against Golden State tonight, sources told ESPN. Jae Crowder not expected to play.
Chris Forsberg: Danny Ainge says on @Toucherandrich that he thinks it was Tyler Zeller's shoulder that concussed Al Horford in practice.
There’s still a chance that Al Horford will return to the Boston Celtics’ lineup for Wednesday’s game against Dallas, but the four-time All-star didn’t sound too optimistic. “On the court, times I’ve been on I felt good with my workouts,” Horford said after fully participating in Tuesday’s practice. “It’s just that to play, I’m just not there yet.”
Scott Souza: #Celtics forward Al Horford said he doesn't want to build expectations for Wednesday night return, hopes soon.
Scott Souza: #Celtics forward Al Horford: I'm literally taking it day-to-day ... At the end of the day, I have to be able to go out there & feel good.
Marc D'Amico: Brad Stevens says Al Horford (concussion) is "not quite ready to play" tonight in New Orleans. #NEBHInjuryReport
Mark Murphy: Al Horford was sent back to Boston once the medical staff determined he wouldn't be able to play tonight.
Horford has been sidelined since suffering a concussion on Oct. 31, but his return appears to be near. “I’m getting better each day, and the past two days have been really good for me,” Horford said. “I was able to get on the court a lot more and run up and down, do a lot of movement, a lot of stuff I wasn’t able to do a couple of days ago.”
Celtics big man Al Horford said he plans to travel with the team on a two-game road trip that starts Saturday night in Indiana with hopes of returning to game action after being sidelined for nearly two weeks due to a concussion. Horford, who has slowly navigated the NBA's return-to-action protocol, missed his fourth straight game with Friday's visit from the New York Knicks. He engaged in an individual workout before Friday's game and is encouraged by his recent progress. "I've been banged in the head before, but nothing like this," said Horford, who was reluctant to get into the specifics of the injury or his recovery.
Stevens did cut his team some slack, noting that Jae Crowder, Al Horford and Marcus Smart haven’t been on the court together at the start of the season, and that does nothing to help team chemistry and rhythm on the court, not to mention spacing. “Losing guys out of our lineups, obviously Jae and Al and Marcus — we haven’t had all three of those guys in one game; those are three of our best defenders. “But the reality is that even with that, even with the idea that one, two, or three of those guys are out at once, that we should be better than we’ve been. I don’t think the group that’s played will necessarily be, especially with the group that we had out last night, I don’t think we’re going to be a top-10 defense. But we can be 12th or 13th, right at the end of the season, that’s for sure.”
One week after Boston Celtics big man Al Horford suffered a concussion during an off-day practice, coach Brad Stevens said the 10th-year veteran has not progressed in the NBA's concussion protocol and he is uncertain when Horford will return to basketball activities. Horford, who signed a four-year, $113 million contract with the Celtics over the summer, has missed Boston's past three games. The concussion was diagnosed Tuesday, after he experienced nausea while attempting to practice a day after absorbing an inadvertent blow to the head from a teammate.
