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The Boston Celtics announced earlier today that star big man Al Horford, who entered the NBA’s concussion protocol on Wednesday, was upgraded to questionable for tonight’s game against the Charlotte Hornets, but has since been officially ruled out.
#NEBHInjuryReport: Al Horford (concussion protocol) has been upgraded to questionable for tonight's game against Charlotte.
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) November 10, 2017
Horford has now gone from out to questionable to out. Tatum is good to go tonight.
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) November 10, 2017
Horford has been one of the Celtics’ best players to start the year, but missed the team’s most recent game against the Los Angeles Lakers, after experiencing the symptoms of a minor concussion. His injury is believed to be the result of a blow to the head sustained in Boston’s recent matchup with the Atlanta Hawks.
The Celtics were hopeful that Horford’s recovery time would be shorter than the nine games he missed with a concussion last year, but it was expected that he would be sidelined for this evening’s tilt with the Hornets.
That Boston is even considering playing Horford bodes well for both his health, and the short and long-term prospects for the team.
Rookie Jayson Tatum, who tweaked his ankle in the Celtics’ game against the Lakers on Wednesday, will play. His floor spacing and offensive creativity will be all the more valuable in light of Horford’s absence.