Boston Daily News: Boston Celtics Suffer Serious Injury During Their Game With  New Orleans Pelicans

Boston — The management decided not to play Kristaps Porzingis against the Pelicans, thus the Celtics will be without their starting centre for the second straight game on Monday night. The big man missed the team’s Saturday night loss to the Clippers due to a sprained ankle he sustained against the Heat on Thursday night.

Before Monday’s game, Joe Mazzulla gave Porzingis a day-to-day update, stating that the centre had worked out on Monday morning and may be back against the Pacers on Tuesday night. In addition, Luke Kornet will not play for Boston on Monday due to a hamstring injury he sustained during the second half of the team’s defeat by the Clippers. Al Horford is expected to start at centre for the second straight game after being upgraded from questionable to available for Monday’s match.

Porzingis and Kornet’s injuries on Monday night might present an opportunity for two-way centre Neemias Queta to get going against a formidable Pelicans front line that includes Jonas Valanciunas and Zion Williamson. Boston may also be trying to counter the Pelicans’ size by playing smaller power forwards like Lamar Stevens or Oshae Brissett with more minutes.

Boston, who has gone 20-2 at home this year with two straight defeats, is now playing seven games at TD Garden. Monday night’s tipoff between Boston and New Orleans is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.