The 37-year-old veteran, Al Horford, will sit out the Celtics’ Friday face-off against the Nets for injury management.

As the Celtics aim to snap a two-game losing streak by facing the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA In-Season Tournament kickoff, the absence of Al Horford could impact their gameplay, as he’s a pivotal asset in their lineup. Although the team doesn’t approach this game differently, Jaylen Brown’s acknowledgment suggests that Horford’s injury status is a notable factor.

The latest injury report submitted by the Celtics indicates that the 37-year-old big man will be absent from the clash against the Nets for injury management. Horford’s absence will be felt as he contributes significantly on both ends of the court, holding a crucial role in the Celtics’ rotation.

The Celtics have typically relied on an eight-player rotation, with Horford leading the bench alongside Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser. Luke Kornet’s minutes have been sporadic, often dictated by specific matchups due to his limitations in perimeter defense. Without Horford, Oshae Brissett and potentially Lamar Stevens might step up.

Facing the Nets, the Celtics might navigate Horford’s absence, considering Brooklyn’s own frontcourt injury concerns. Despite Cam Johnson’s return, the Nets will miss Nicolas Claxton and Ben Simmons, likely deploying Dorian Finney-Smith as a small-ball center and looking to Day’Ron Sharpe off the bench for energy.

Horford’s absence isn’t a cause for major concern, as the Celtics have been vigilant about managing his health in recent seasons. With this game against the Nets starting a back-to-back set, it seems more strategic for Horford to skip this match and potentially feature in the subsequent clash against the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors’ size as a unit could demand Horford’s presence, especially if other Celtics players are fatigued by then.