The Boston Celtics avoided their first three-game losing streak of the season on Sunday, thanks in large part to a vintage performance by Al Horford.

Despite suggesting on social media that he would play vs. the Lakers, Kristaps Porzingis was ruled out for the fifth straight game.

The Celtics will be down their starting center Kristaps Porzingis for the fourth straight game as well on Saturday night due to illness. Al Horford will start in his place. Jrue Holiday will be back in the lineup for Boston after missing the last three games with a finger injury.

The Boston Celtics snapped their two-game losing streak as they defeated the Denver Nuggets on Sunday afternoon.

"You take a look at his stat sheet, it doesn't always show what he does for us," Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said of Horford.

Jrue Holiday and Al Horford headline the Boston Celtics ' injury report going into Tuesday's game against the Toronto Raptors. The report reveals that Holiday will sit out the game as the Celtics are resting him. As for their veteran big man, Horford has a questionable status as he's dealing with a toe sprain.

Horford will continue to sit out one leg of Boston's back-to-backs Thursday due to his toe injury. With Kristaps Porzingis (knee) also out, Neemias Queta and Luke Kornet are set to receive the bulk of the team's center minutes against Philadelphia.

At 38, Al Horford remains crucial for the Boston Celtics, with his experience and poise boosting their title aspirations.

The Boston Celtics were down a few players Wednesday and will be even more shorthanded Thursday night when the Philadelphia 76ers come to town.

Al Horford's sister, Anna Horford, reacted to the Boston Celtics' Instagram handle, giving a birthday shoutout to their big man's son, Ean.