On the other side, the Celtics have remained one of the NBA's elite teams, occupying the second spot in the Eastern Conference for most of the season. As the reigning NBA champion

As we head down the homestretch of the NBA season, Lakers-Celtics is once again one of the league's marquee matchups.

Unfortunately, Holiday has had issues staying healthy. He has only played in three of the last ten games for the Celtics. He has missed the last few games with a finger injury. Ahead of the Celtics' matchup with the Trail Blazers, he is listed as doubtful for the game with mallet finger.

Brown’s message didn’t come across as a challenge. It sounded more like encouragement, the words of a caring teammate looking to empower one of his brothers.

Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday are both listed as questionable against the Cavs, and it will be interesting to see if they can play in this primetime game. Holiday played in the Celtics' previous game against the Pistons but didn't shoot the ball well, finishing with four points and shooting 0-for-5 from three.

The Boston Celtics are set to begin their two-game Eastern Conference road trip in Canada, facing the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night.

It looks like the Boston Celtics will be shorthanded when they welcome the Portland Trail Blazers to TD Garden on Wednesday night, with six players listed on the team's injury report.

The Boston Celtics beat the Denver Nuggets Sunday 110-103 while missing two starters, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. While Porzingis (who has played in 32 of the Celtics ’ 61 games thus far) continues to miss time due to an illness, Holiday has a more complex scenario.