Xavier

Tillman

Tillman is back after sitting out Thursday’s loss to the Bulls. With the other Celtics’ rotation big men also absent from the injury report, Tillman is not likely to get the minutes needed to impact fantasy basketball.

Tillman’s absence will not significantly impact the Celtics’ rotation or fantasy basketball, as the team’s other bigs are available to play. Al Horford, Luke Kornet, and Neemias Questa are all available to supplement Kristaps Porzingis.

Kornet didn’t make the team’s initial injury report, but he has been ruled out less than an hour before tipoff. Neemias Queta and Xavier Tillman should split a few extra minutes off the bench, but with Al Horford back, neither will be worth streaming.

Horford’s absence on the first night of a back-to-back is certainly a real possibility, and that would likely open the door for Neemias Queta to start, with Xavier Tillman and Luke Kornet backing him up. If Horford doesn’t miss Tuesday, there is a good chance that he ists on Wednesday.

The Celtics are without Jaylen Brown and Luke Kornet, but it won’t be Neemias Queta who fills the resulting void in the starting lineup. Tillman receives the nod for Friday’s game, and this gives his fantasy value a modest boost. Queta will still be in the rotation, but his fantasy ceiling is limited in this spot.

Horford’s absence shouldn’t be a surprise, as the Celtics play a back-to-back set on Friday and Saturday. He’ll presumably return to the Celtics’ first unit for Saturday’s rematch with the Hornets. While he’s out Friday, expect Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman to see increased run at center.

Celtics team president Brad Stevens revealed during media day on Tuesday that Tillman underwent a scope on his left knee in late July. Due to the knee, he missed eight games in late January/early February and did not make his Celtics debut until after the All-Star break. Tillman wasn’t much of a fantasy asset for the Celtics last season, but that stands to change, with Kristaps Porzingis (leg) unlikely to play before December. Tillman and Luke Kornet will have some streaming value on nights when Boston is also without Al Horford, who did not play both games of any back-to-backs last season.

Tillman played for the Celtics sparingly in 2023-24 and averaged 4.0 points 2.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assists across 20 games after being traded by the Memphis Grizzlies. He has a chance to contribute a little more at the beginning of 2024-25 while Kristaps Porzingis recovers from surgery, but fantasy managers shouldn’t expect too much from the reserve big man.

Porzingis, who did not play in Wednesday’s Game 3 victory, did some individual work during Thursday’s practice in front of the media. He’s listed as questionable on Boston’s initial injury report for Game 4, with Al Horford and Xavier Tillman being the players most impacted by Porzingis’ availability. Horford, the starting center throughout, played 37 minutes on Wednesday, while Tillman was the only other big in the rotation. Tillman played 11 minutes, which isn’t enough time to impact DFS tournaments.

With Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) sidelined, Tillman was the first big off the Celtics bench on Wednesday. While there were a few hiccups on the defensive end, he still offered solid production in the rebound and blocked shot categories. Starter Al Horford also benefitted from Porzingis’ absence, logging 37 minutes and recording a line of eight points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals, one block, and two 3-pointers. While Horford is a more viable DFS option if Porzingis remains out for Friday’s Game 4, Tillman is not.