Celtics' Jrue Holiday Cleared to Play vs. Knicks in Game 1

Jrue Holiday has been cleared to return for the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series against the New York Knicks after missing the final three games of the first round due to a hamstring injury. The Celtics now have a clean injury report, with Holiday, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum all ready to play, signaling that Boston will be at full strength for the matchup. Holiday’s return is seen as a significant boost, especially given his defensive prowess and past success against the Knicks, making him a key asset as he is likely to defend New York's star guard Jalen Brunson. Coach Joe Mazzulla confirmed Holiday was able to participate fully in practice, and his performance during the regular season against the Knicks has been notably effective. The series opener will be held at TD Garden in Boston, with tip-off scheduled for Monday evening. The Celtics' quick resolution of their first-round series allowed them valuable recovery time ahead of this important matchup.