In a stunning turn of events that could tilt the scales heavily in their favor, the Boston Celtics are set to face a depleted Charlotte Hornets squad tonight. Just moments ago, the Hornets announced that key forwards Grant Williams (right knee — injury management) and Tidjane Salaün (left knee) have been ruled out for the matchup, handing the defending champions a significant edge in the frontcourt.
Salaün’s injury stemmed from a late-game incident in last night’s clash against the Dallas Mavericks. With just over a minute remaining, the young forward received a pass in the paint, elevated for a shot, and was fouled mid-air by Caleb Martin. He landed awkwardly with his leg buckling underneath him. Though Salaün managed to rise, shake it off, and sink his free throws, the Hornets quickly fouled intentionally to sub him out. Details on the injury’s severity remain scarce, but his absence tonight spells trouble for Charlotte’s depth.
Meanwhile, Grant Williams, who logged 21 minutes in yesterday’s game, is being held out as a precaution. The Hornets’ medical staff has been ultra-cautious with his recovery, advising against playing him in back-to-back games. Since returning to action, Williams has been a standout contributor, posting averages of 7.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game on 42% field goal shooting and 37% from beyond the arc. Without him, Boston’s potent frontcourt—led by stars like Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porziņģis—will face far less resistance.
How will the Hornets cope with this setback? Head coach Charles Lee will likely lean heavily on Miles Bridges, pushing him toward 35-38 minutes of playtime—a workload he’s handled multiple times this season. The challenge for Bridges and the team will be avoiding foul trouble; early whistles could exacerbate their vulnerabilities and play right into Boston’s hands.
On the bench, expect unconventional adjustments like deploying Sion James at the power forward spot. While not a traditional big, James’s strength and physicality have been utilized against larger opponents before. Charlotte might also experiment with twin-big lineups featuring Moussa Diabaté and Ryan Kalkbrenner, or even sprinkling in Xavier Tillman Sr. Additionally, the Hornets have recalled Tosan Evbuomwan from the G League’s Greensboro Swarm, making him available as emergency depth.
For the Celtics, this news couldn’t come at a better time as they look to capitalize on Charlotte’s misfortunes and extend their dominance. The tip-off is scheduled for approximately 7:30 p.m. ET, with the game streaming live on FanDuel Sports Network Southeast and broadcasting on Sports Radio WFNZ, where Sam Farber will provide the play-by-play.