Sport
Celtics injury report: New reserve guard removed for Bulls game
The Celtics will have a fully healthy roster on Thursday night for the first time in weeks against the Bulls in their return from the All-Star Break. The team announced Thursday afternoon that new trade addition Jaden Springer had been removed from the team’s injury report after being sidelined with a right ankle impingement during the past two weeks.
Springer’s removal comes on the heels of Xavier Tillman also being cleared to play for the first time with Boston after he dealt with left knee soreness for the past few weeks. With both players available, the Celtics will have a well-rested and versatile roster available for Joe Mazzulla for the road contest in Chicago.
Boston comes back from the break already with a league-best 43-12 record while riding a six-game winning streak. Tillman is expected to serve as big man depth for Boston after being acquired from the Grizzlies for a pair of second-round picks and Lamar Stevens. Springer was added just minutes before the trade deadline two weeks ago for a second-round pick. He’s expected to be a more developmental project for Boston at just 21 years of age after being acquired from the 76ers in a surprise deal between playoff rivals.
Team president of basketball operations Brad Stevens spoke about the trade and Springer earlier this month.
“We’ve tracked his development pretty closely over the years,” Stevens said. “We liked him in the draft a few years ago. He was the youngest player in that draft. He’s still a puppy. He’s still 21 years old. He was unbelievable in the G-League playoffs last year. He’s done a lot of good things against us when he’s been up in Maine. We’ve seen him live several times up there. He’s a guy we’ve been tracking for a while.”
The Celtics and Springer will face the Bulls at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday night at the United Center.
