Washington @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 8, 2018 ) Boston 110, Washington 104

The Boston Celtics will be severely shorthanded on Wednesday when they host the Washington Wizards. Star guard Kyrie Irving is among the four players who will miss the contest while power forward Al Horford is questionable due to illness.

Irving continues to deal with left knee soreness that will cause him to sit out for the second time in four games while point guard Marcus Smart (thumb), shooting guard Jaylen Brown (concussion) and forward Daniel Theis (knee) will also be in street clothes for a team that has dealt with injuries since losing small forward Gordon Hayward to a broken ankle in the season opener. "We are equipped and we will battle on, I think is the way you got to look at it," Boston coach Brad Stevens told reporters. "I've never been in a season that's been like this. Obviously it started right out of the gate this way with Gordon." Washington is struggling with five losses in its past seven games after losing 116-111 to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday and coach Scott Brooks was dismayed over his club's interior defense after allowing 64 points in the paint. "You can't expect your bigs to protect you every time. You got to guard, you got to guard the ball," Brooks told reporters. "You can't keep saying the same things every game. It's been four games now, and we've given up over 60 points in the paint. It's a personal pride."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN, NBCS Boston

ABOUT THE WIZARDS (38-30): All-Star shooting guard Bradley Beal is aware of Boston's injury issues and feels there is no excuse for not winning Wednesday's contest. "We need it, we need to win," Beal told reporters after Tuesday's setback. "It's plain and simple. It's not anything we need to pinpoint on doing, we know who we're playing, we know what environment we're going to be in, so there should be nothing new for us. Just go out there and get a win, whatever it takes." Beal scored 19 points against the Timberwolves on a night in which power forward Markieff Morris stood out with a season-high 27 points.

ABOUT THE CELTICS (46-21): Theis was ruled out for the season with a torn meniscus in his left knee, an injury that occurred during the final minute of Sunday's loss to the Indiana Pacers. The 25-year-old rookie from Germany has been a key member of the rotation with averages of 5.3 points and 4.3 rebounds while recording 48 blocked shots and 30 steals. "I appreciate the way that he approached every day, and he'll approach the rehab the same way," Stevens told reporters. "But you really feel for him. He was a guy that came in knowing he could play, but maybe not even expecting to have the type of season he had."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The squads have split two meetings this season with the visiting team prevailing on both occasions.

2. Washington PG Tomas Satoransky continues to play well in place of injured All-Star John Wall (knee) and recorded 15 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals against Minnesota.

3. Boston rookie SF Jayson Tatum scored 19 points versus Indiana for his best scoring effort since a 27-point performance against the Atlanta Hawks on Feb. 2.

PREDICTION: Wizards 109, Celtics 107