Horford to return for wounded Celtics, Kyrie to remain out vs. Magic

The Boston Celtics will have at least one of their stars back in uniform as they try to steady a leaky ship Friday night against the Orlando Magic.

Al Horford, who has missed the past two games with an illness, will suit up in Orlando, head coach Brad Stevens announced.

For now, that's where the good news ends for the Celtics (though getting to play the Magic might qualify). Kyrie Irving, dealing with knee soreness, will miss a second straight game. Stevens did say Irving's knee is feeling "a little bit better," but team president Danny Ainge has also suggested he'll need surgery on it at some point in the future.

Marcus Smart is reportedly set to undergo thumb surgery, which will sideline him until at least the playoffs. Jaylen Brown remains in concussion protocol and will be reassessed early next week. With Gordon Hayward and Daniel Theis also out with ostensibly season-ending injuries, that still leaves five Celtics on the inactive list.

"I've never seen anything like this," Horford told reporters after Friday's shootaround. "This late in the season it's hard on our group. But we have to keep moving forward."