The Celtics are expected to get some rotation help in Game 5 of their second round series against the Knicks after Jayson Tatum’s season-ending injury. Sam Hauser was upgraded to probable for the contest after he missed the last three games with a right ankle sprain. Hauser was originally listed as questionable before Game 4 Monday but was ultimately ruled out before tipoff.
Hauser suffered an ankle sprain in the Celtics’ Game 1 loss last week against the Knicks after he landed awkwardly following a 3-point contest of OG Anunoby. He went through an intense workout on Monday with coaches on the floor at Madison square Garden.
If Hauser is available, the Celtics will likely turn to him early off the bench for a scoring boost as a wing option in Jayson Tatum’s absence. Kristaps Porzingis also continues to deal with fatigue but was optimistic about his improved condition after Game 4 when he played more than he had all series..
“Tonight was the first time I felt decent, honestly,” Porzingis said Monday night. “Just everything. My energy, I was more like uplifted, and maybe didn’t have my best game, anyway, but my energy was good and I felt like I could go a bit more up and down, so that was a positive.”
It will be all hands on deck for Boston in Game 5 with the team facing elimination at TD Garden. The Celtics are 9-2 in games without Tatum this season including a Game 2 win over the Magic at TD Garden in the first round. Boston started Porzingis and Al Horford in the frontcourt in that game but that duo has not seen great success in this series against the Knicks.
Hauser is averaging 2.7 points per game over 13 minutes in his six postseason appearances this year.
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