The Celtics thin frontcourt got even thinner just before tipoff Tuesday night in Toronto.
After already ruling out big men Al Horford (toe) and Luke Kornet (personal reason), Boston downgraded Kristaps Porzingis to doubtful with an illness minutes before taking the court at Scotiabank Arena.
Porzingis was removed from the starting lineup and was not on the bench to begin the game. His replacement in the starting lineup? Not Neemias Queta, who typically is the fourth man on the depth chart behind Porzingis, Horford and Kornet. Queta was available after sitting out Sunday’s win over the New York Knicks with an illness, but head coach Joe Mazzulla chose to use him as a reserve.
Instead, plugged an unexpected player into Porzingis’ spot: veteran wing Torrey Craig. Craig, who signed with Boston in early February, slotted in at center in his first start as a Celtic.
That’s an unfamiliar spot for the 34-year-old. According to Basketball-Reference’s position estimate, Craig had played just 1% of his 8,731 career minutes at the five entering Tuesday’s game. He won the opening tip, however, and played the first 5:34 before Queta checked in for the first time.
Craig came off the bench in his first two Celtics appearances, tallying six points, one assist and one block in a win over the San Antonio Spurs and three blocks, two rebounds and one assist in a victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. He was a healthy DNP against the Knicks with Boston’s full core rotation available.
The Celtics also were without starting guard Jrue Holiday, who sat out for rest purposes on the first night of a back-to-back. Toronto’s list of DNPs included center Jakob Poeltl and wing Brandon Ingram.
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