NEW YORK — The Celtics could have their full rotation available for Game 4 against the New York Knicks on Monday night. Sam Hauser, who sprained his right ankle in Game 1 and missed the previous two games, is questionable, and Mazzulla on Sunday said he was progressing.
“He’s getting there,” Mazzulla said. “He’s getting better. He’s day-to-day, getting better every day.”
Hauser appeared to go through a full shootaround on Monday, going through both offensive and defensive drills.
Hauser averaged 5.4 points off the bench last playoff run, shooting 38% from three. His opportunities were limited in the first round against the Magic — the Celtics’ sharpshooter made 4 of 9 three-point attempts against an Orlando defense that fought to take away the three-point shot.
Then, he sprained his ankle in the series opener against the Knicks, going scoreless in his four minutes.
The Celtics struggled from three-point range in Games 1 and 2, hitting just 25 of 100 three-point attempts. But, they caught fire in Game 3, sinking 20 of 40 attempts.
Hauser’s looming return could further bolster their ability to score from the outside.
“It would be huge,” Jrue Holiday said at Monday’s shootaround at Madison Square Garden. “Obviously, his three-point shooting. How he spaces the floor. Being able to be dynamic. Having Big Smoove back would be good.”
Kristaps Porzingis is available for Game 4
Kristaps Porzingis, who has been limited to 15.3 minutes per game in this series due to the lingering effects from an illness he suffered in late February, was not on the injury report ahead of Game 4.
He exited Game 1 early due to illness and came off the bench in Games 2 and 3, logging 8 points in 14 minutes in Game 2 and 5 points in 19 minutes in Game 3. Porzingis also tallied 3 blocks in Saturday’s blowout victory.
“He looks good,” Holiday said. “I think that he’s always gonna come out there, and if he’s on the court, he’s gonna give everything he has.”
Jrue Holiday’s hamstring has held up well in the second round
The rest of the Celtics’ roster is good to go ahead of Game 4. Holiday missed three games in the first round of the playoffs against the Magic with a hamstring strain, but said at shootaround that he’s felt good against the Knicks.
“It feels good,” he said. “It feels healthy. I haven’t had any issues.”
Across five postseason games, Holiday is averaging 10.8 points on 53.8% shooting. He’s also been tasked with guarding Knicks star Jalen Brunson.
