Celtics 
Jrue Holiday is expected to play in Game 1 against the Knicks. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff)
By Conor Ryan
May 4, 2025
The Boston Celtics will be back at full strength ahead of the team’s second-round series against the New York Knicks.
Boston released a clean injury report on Sunday ahead of the team’s Game 1 matchup against New York the following night — with no players expected to be limited entering the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Injury Report for tomorrow vs. New York:
No injuries to report
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 4, 2025
In particular, that signals that veteran guard Jrue Holiday is due to return to the court after missing the final three games of Boston’s first-round series against Orlando due to a strained hamstring.
Holiday appeared to be on the right track after Boston eliminated Orlando in five games. The 34-year-old point guard took part in the Celtics’ practices over the weekend.
“He was able to work on everything he wanted to work on,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said Saturday. “He’s getting better every day.”
A healthy Holiday will be a welcome addition for Boston ahead of a matchup against New York.
Even though Holiday has not had to serve as a primary scoring threat with the Celtics, he did average 16.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals in three games against the Knicks during the regular season — shooting 66.7 percent from the field.
Holiday’s greatest value moving forward will likely come on the defensive side of the ball, as the six-time All-Defensive guard will likely team up with Derrick White in Boston’s attempts to slow down New York star guard Jalen Brunson.
“You just can’t do it with one guy, right? It takes a team. It takes different matchups. It takes different coverages,” Mazzulla said Saturday of slowing down Brunson. “But, there’s got to be a level of physicality, a level of discipline, a level of attention to detail on tendencies. If you add up all the points, there are a number of points to which you can work to be disciplined and work to control.
“But, at the same time. He’s a great player, and he’s going to make plays. So, to me, that’s where the margins are so important. If you put yourself in a position where you don’t impact the margins at a high level, players of his caliber, who can get to his spot and get to the free throw line, put you in a tougher spot. So you have to defend him as a team. You have to be disciplined in your tendencies.”
Along with Holiday, Jaylen Brown was also removed from Boston’s injury report.
Brown had been listed as questionable for the final three games of the Orlando series due to a nagging knee injury. But earning close to a week of rest seems to have done Brown and the Celtics some good.
“For me, I’m just trying to trend back in the direction of being 100 percent,” Brown said Saturday of his knee. “Physically holding my ground and still making plays for our team.
“Even with guys being out — Jrue, J.T. missed a game — being able to step in and fill a role. I feel I’m decent. Now, moving forward, it’s a whole different ballgame, different team, different challenges. My focus is fixed on that.”
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