Boston Celtics’ Jrue Holiday (4) looses control of the ball against Orlando Magic’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (3) during the first half in game 1 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) during the first half in game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Boston Celtics’ Jrue Holiday, right, drives to the basket against New York Knicks’ OG Anunoby, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) celebrates with teammate Derrick White while leading the Orlando Magic during the second half in Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series, Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown is congratulated by fans after eliminating the Orlando Magic following the second half in game 5 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series, Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives to the basket against the Orlando Magic during the second half in Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series, Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla watches his players during the first half in game 5 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series against the Boston Celtics, Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
President of the New York Knicks Leon Rose, left, hugs guard Jalen Brunson (11) as they leave the court following a Game 6 win in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons, Thursday, May 1, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drives past Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley in the second half during Game 5 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Jrue Holiday still day-to-day as Celtics prepare for playoff matchup with Knicks
BOSTON (AP) 鈥 Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said guard Jrue Holiday remains day-to-day with a strained hamstring and gave no indication whether he would be available for Game 1 of the second-round playoff series on Monday against the New York Knicks.
Boston Celtics’ Jrue Holiday (4) looses control of the ball against Orlando Magic’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (3) during the first half in game 1 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
BOSTON (AP) 鈥 Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said guard Jrue Holiday remains day-to-day with a strained hamstring and gave no indication whether he would be available for Game 1 of the second-round playoff series on Monday against the New York Knicks.
鈥淗e鈥檚 just getting better every day, doing whatever he can to make sure he puts himself in position to come back as fast as he can,鈥 Mazzulla told reporters. 鈥淗e鈥檚 working hard.鈥
The Celtics advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals on Tuesday night by eliminating the Orlando Magic in five games. It was a physical series that saw All-Star Jayson Tatum bruise his wrist when he was knocked to the floor on a hard foul by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in Game 1.
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Tatum missed Game 2 but returned strong, scoring 36, 37 and 35 points in the next three to close out the Magic. Fellow All-Star Jaylen Brown could also use the time to heal a right knee impingement that kept him out of the final three games of the regular season.
Guard Derrick White said the team knows how to use the time off wisely. When the Celtics won it all last year, they had five days off twice, six days once and nine days off before the start of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks.
鈥淵ou want to take care of your body, but you also don鈥檛 want to get rusty,鈥 he said on Friday. 鈥淪o just try to find that balance of pushing yourself in your workouts so you鈥檙e ready to go when the game happens, but also getting your recovery, getting your rest.
鈥淚 think each gap is a little different, depending on how I feel, how my body鈥檚 feeling,鈥 he said. 鈥淚鈥檒l take a couple of days off, and then I鈥檒l just try to prepare for, for New York and, and what we expect to see.”
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