Celtics injury updates: Will Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker play in Game 3 vs. Nets?

Jordan Greer

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Celtics injury updates: Will Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker play in Game 3 vs. Nets? image

Will Celtics coach Brad Stevens have his full starting lineup available for Friday's Game 3 against the Nets? Will it even matter at this point in the series?

Brooklyn dominated Boston in Games 1 and 2, comfortably winning by double digits in each contest on its way to a 2-0 lead. Now the Celtics are facing what is essentially a must-win game at TD Garden, and that means All-Star forward Jayson Tatum and guard Kemba Walker, both of whom are dealing with injuries, will need to step up and carry the scoring load.

MORE: Why did Kyrie Irving leave the Celtics?

Here are the latest updates on Tatum and Walker ahead of Game 3.

Will Jayson Tatum play vs. Nets?

Tatum went down in the third quarter of Tuesday's Game 2 after being accidentally poked in the right eye by Nets star Kevin Durant. Stevens told reporters after the game that Tatum was "really struggling" and that the eye looked "pretty swollen."

The initial round of updates wasn't great, but Tatum managed to recover quickly and practiced with the team on Thursday. He is not listed on the Celtics' Game 3 injury report, so he is expected to play.

Through the first two games of the series, Tatum is averaging 15.5 points on 28.1 percent shooting. He only played 21 minutes in Game 2 before exiting with the eye injury.

Will Kemba Walker play vs. Nets?

On Thursday's injury report, Walker was listed as questionable with a left knee medial bone bruise. On Friday afternoon, he was officially upgraded to available.

Walker has struggled to find his offensive footing against the Nets, averaging 16.0 points while shooting 37 percent from the field and 30 percent from 3-point range.

Celtics vs. Nets Game 3 injury report

(Current as of 5:30 p.m. ET Friday)

Team Player Status Reason
Celtics Jaylen Brown Out Left scapholunate; ligament surgery
Celtics Kemba Walker Available Left knee; medial bone bruise
Nets Spencer Dinwiddie Out Right knee; partially torn ACL
Nets Jeff Green Out Left plantar fascia; strain

Jordan Greer

Jordan Greer Photo

Jordan Greer has been with The Sporting News since 2015. He previously worked for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He is a graduate of Westminster College and Syracuse University.