Baynes and Theis out, Morris in for final preseason game

The Boston Celtics will wrap up their preseason schedule on Wednesday night as they take on the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center.

Kyrie Irving, Al Horford, and Gordon Hayward are all expected to play tonight after missing Monday’s game against the Sixers, but Boston will be missing two big men against the Hornets.

Aron Baynes suffered a left knee sprain in the first half of the Sixers game, and will miss Boston’s final preseason game to receive treatment. Daniel Theis will also sit out as he is nursing a thigh injury.

There is no news regarding either player’s availability going into the Celtics’ first regular season game against the Cavaliers on October 17th. Boston listed Baynes day-to-day, so it doesn’t seem like the injury is serious. Look for more information to come out on that front as we get closer to the start of the regular season.

Marcus Morris missed the Celtics’ first preseason game due to he and his brother’s assault trial, and then missed the next two as a means of getting back into basketball shape following his acquittal. Morris is expected to make his Celtics debut on Wednesday in limited minutes.

With Baynes out for this game, there’s a good chance we get a look at a Horford-Morris front court combo. Even if that doesn’t happen, seeing Morris out there playing power forward will be very interesting. The Celtics have looked like a very deep team in the first three preseason games without Morris, so getting to see him with the second unit will give the coaches and fans a taste of Boston’s true potential.

The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. as the Celtics get their final run of action before they take on the reigning eastern conference champion Cavaliers on 10/17.