Celtics Injury Report Confirms Boston’s Focused On Postseason Run
The Boston Celtics will play their regular season finale Sunday against the Charlotte Hornets without their top-6 players, the team announced Saturday.
The Celtics routed the Hornets on Friday, giving their stars, minus Jaylen Brown, one final tune-up game before the playoffs begin on April 19.
The Celtics reached 60 wins for the second consecutive season for the first time since the 2008 and 2009 campaigns, and with the No. 2 seed in the East locked, Brown, Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday and Al Horford are all listed as out on the injury report.
Everyone else on the roster will play, looking to build up confidence and some momentum heading into their first-round playoff matchup. Sixth Man of the Year frontrunner Payton Pritchard will get plenty of minutes along with Sam Hauser and Luke Kornet.
As Boston enters the regular season finale with one last opportunity to give their two-way players some heavy minutes, they can reflect on a successful regular season but realize that this postseason road will be far more difficult than last.
The Celtics will face either the Atlanta Hawks or the Orlando Magic in the opening round of the postseason. The Hawks and Magic will battle on Tuesday at the Kia Center in Orlando as part of the play-in tournament, with the winner earning the No. 7 seed and a date with the defending NBA champions.