The East is set for its biggest and most anticipated showdown of the regular season, which could very well feel like a potential preview of the 2025 conference finals. The Cleveland Cavaliers have marched to Boston for a thrilling match that promises to be nothing short of a nail-biter. Their rivalry is heating up, with the Celtics up 2-1. Now, it’s do or die, either the Celtics will close it out or the Cavs will level the series. With the stage almost set, all eyes are on whether Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis will be on the roster tonight.

Hours before the matchup, the Celtics dropped a lineup update which is a big blow to the team. According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, Jrue Holiday will not be playing tonight because of his finger injury. Holiday did suit up on Wednesday in the road game against the Pistons but is reportedly dealing with a right hand mallet finger injury. It happens when the tip of the finger droops down due to an injury. As a result, the Celtics have decided to sideline him for Friday’s game.

But Holiday isn’t the only concern for the Celtics. The report also highlights Kristaps Porzingis and Jaylen Brown’s availability. The team hasn’t given them a green signal yet. Porzingis is suffering from a non-COVID illness, while Brown has a left thigh contusion which he sustained from a bump in Tuesday’s win against the Raptors. Both players are currently listed as questionable. So, they will be monitored before the team makes a final decision.

The Cavaliers are not just at the top of the East but the entire league. Facing them without Holiday, Porzingis, and Brown could be a tough challenge for the Celtics. In addition to the three, Luke Kornet’s availability is also in question due to some personal reasons. On the flip side, the Cavs have no players listed on the injury report, which means all their players are healthy. That certainly gives them a big advantage in the matchup.

Will Jrue Holiday’s absence impact the Celtics against the Cavs?

The Celtics may have had the upper hand over the Cavaliers this season, but Cleveland can’t be underestimated. After all, they’re leading with a 48-10 record. Thought the C’s aren’t too far behind (42-17), they haven’t been as dominant as last season. And with Jrue Holiday out of the picture and the other two key players uncertain, this could be the Cavs’ game to win.

This will be the 13th game Holiday has missed this season. With him on the roster, the team has maintained a 33-14 record, compared to 9-3 without him. So far, the combo guard has averaged 10.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1 steal per game. While he hasn’t been the main driving force behind the Celtics’ numbers, he provides crucial depth for the team, which is absolutely vital.

But will the Celtics be able to manage without him, or will his absence cost them greatly in this matchup? The answer will be revealed in the game. So, tune in at 7:30 PM ET tonight to catch all the live action from TD Garden.