Celtics injury report: Jayson Tatum demoted for Pistons game

The Celtics will be without three players in total when they take on the Pistons at 7:30 pm Thursday at TD Garden. In particular, Jayson Tatum will be one of those missing the game, as he will play only his second game of the season. The C’s initially had a total of four players listed on the injury report prior to Thursday’s game.

Tatum (right patella tendinopathy), Sam Hauser (right adductor strain) and Jaden Springer (illness) are all listed as out on the injury report. Hauser was initially doubtful for the game, while Springer and Tatum were questionable. Jordan Walsh was upgraded from questionable to available when he was listed with a left rib contusion.

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Tatum also missed the Pistons game last week, the first time this season he has attended a game. He suited up in both games in back-to-backs against the Bucks and the Grizzlies afterward. Given that the C’s are in an easy part of their schedule for the NBA Cup, sitting Tatum allows him to get a full week of rest. The Celtics don’t play again until Sunday in Washington DC against the Wizards.

The Celtics play just two games over an 11-day stretch because they missed the knockout stages of the regular season tournament. The league intentionally kept this entire week open to all teams so it could showcase teams in the NBA Cup. Considering the C’s were coming off a five-game, seven-day stretch, they’ll gladly take the rest.

The Celtics and Pistons met just eight days ago at the Garden, which ended in a 130-120 victory for Boston. The Pistons gave the C’s some unexpected fight, forcing a close game after scoring 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. Detroit brings in a 10-15 record as it has at least climbed out of the East’s basement, but appears to be taking several steps toward becoming a play-in team.