https://celticswire.usatoday.com/2019/01/22/al-horford-gets-rest-day-against-vs-cavs-on-wednesday/
Al Horford gets rest day against vs. Cavs on Wednesday
Quenton S. Albertie
The Boston Celtics will have to make do without All-Star center Al Horford on Wednesday when the Cleveland Cavaliers travel to TD Garden to take on Boston and their former franchise point guard, Kyrie Irving. Over the Celtics' last four games, Horford has averaged 17.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 65.9 percent from the field, 50.0 percent from three-point range and 100.0 percent from the free-throw line.
#NEBHInjuryReport Al Horford (rest) is OUT tomorrow vs Cleveland.
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 22, 2019
However, although Horford has been healthy and dominant as of late, their game against the Cavs isn't one that's expected to be fraught with twists and turns.
Cleveland is ranked dead last in defensive rating (118.6) and are 23rd in offensive rating (106.9), a byproduct of their lack of top-end talent, injury-ravaged roster and bad habits. Further, Cavs center Tristan Thompson — who has defended Horford well in the past — is still listed on the team's injury report.
As are three of their other key rotation players: Kevin Love, Larry Nance Jr. and David Nwaba.
Meanwhile, fully healthy (sans the resting Horford), having played sound basketball and a team with a myriad of potential and current stars, Boston has managed to rank fifth in defensive rating (106.1) and 11th in offensive rating (112.4) while ranking fifth in the Eastern Conference standings with a 29-18 record.
They haven't always been elite but they've undoubtedly been superior to the Cavs — who have the worst record in the NBA at 9-39 — throughout the season. In the Celtics previous matchup with Cleveland this season, a game that Horford would miss, Boston won by 33 points.
The Celtics and Cavs are slated two meet two more times this season. February 5th and March 26th.