The Celtics were without their top three big men for Friday night’s first matchup against the Magic.

Kristaps Porzingis (left calf strain), Al Horford (rest) and Luke Kornet (left adductor tightness) were all ruled out Friday, leaving the Celtics severely thin in the frontcourt. Lamar Stevens, a night after playing a surprise role off the bench, got his first start with the Celtics.

Jaylen Brown was initially listed as questionable for Friday’s game due to a right knee hyperextension but was cleared to play. Dalano Banton was also out due to a non-COVID illness, leaving four Celtics out.

Horford continued to not play in both games of back-to-backs, even though he only played 24 minutes in Thursday’s win over the Cavs. Porzingis is continuing to manage the left calf injury that he suffered on Nov. 24 against the Magic and forced him to miss four games.

“I just think we’re being cautious,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “But he’s done a good job of taking care of it and he’s come up well after we played. So, just being cautious with it.”

Kornet was a late scratch for Thursday’s game as the Celtics announced he was out moments after tip. Mazzulla said he’s unsure how he suffered the injury, but said that Kornet told him he will have to miss about a week.

Mazzulla said that right now, he doesn’t believe the Celtics need to add a big in the event of other nights like this in which they’re shorthanded. He praised Neemias Queta, who has already stepped up in other situations this season.

“I think Neemie, in the minutes he’s gotten for us, he’s done really good things for us, so I feel completely confident when we’re in these types of situations giving him a fair opportunity because of what he’s done for us and what he’s done in the league,” Mazzulla said. “Maybe tonight we might need one. I don’t think we can do anything about it. But over the course of the season I like what our bigs have been doing. Luke’s been playing really well, physical, protecting the rim. And Neemie has done some good things for us when he plays.”