ORLANDO — The Celtics will be without Jrue Holiday for Friday’s Game 3 matchup against the Orlando Magic. Holiday was listed as questionable with a right hamstring strain, and didn’t go through pregame warmups.
Jayson Tatum (right wrist bone bruise) and Jaylen Brown (right knee posterior impingement) are both available to play, the team announced about 45 minutes ahead of tip-off. Tatum and Brown were also listed the Celtics’ afternoon injury report ahead of Game 3, with Tatum listed as doubtful and Brown listed as questionable. Tatum was upgraded from doubtful to questionable two hours ahead of tip-off.
Both Tatum and Brown went through their full pregame warmups and didn’t appear limited.
Regardless of whether Jayson Tatum is able to play tonight, it’s definitely a good sign he’s shooting right now
We hadn’t seen him shoot since the injury pic.twitter.com/Kp5Fe7e9U1
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) April 25, 2025
On Thursday, Joe Mazzulla said on the radio show Zolak and Bertrand that Tatum was dealing with a “severe” bone bruise and remained day-to-day. When Mazzulla was asked to elaborate on his decision to describe the bone bruise as “severe” he simply explained it was severe enough to keep him out of Game 2. Tatum suffered the injury on Sunday in Game 1 of the NBA playoffs, and missed his first-ever playoff again as a Celtic three days later.
Brown has been dealing with his right knee impingement since mid-February, missing 12 games for it down the stretch of the regular season. He had one of his best games of the year on Wednesday, exploding for 36 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Holiday, meanwhile, will miss his first playoff game as a Celtic.
Game 3 between the Celtics and the Magic will tip-off at 7pm.
