With their postseason seed locked in, the seventh-place Boston Celtics opted to leave most of their core players home for their final road trip of the regular season, allowing them to fully heal from minor injuries and be well-rested for the play-in round. But for a fully healthy Evan Fournier and Jayson Tatum, this trip was treated like any other.
Celtics injury report: How Boston plans to rest, give other players opportunities ahead of play-in tourney
Updated 1:30 PM;
Today 1:30 PM
Boston Celtics guard Romeo Langford (45) drives to the basket past Philadelphia 76ers forward Mike Scott (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)AP
Facebook Share
The Celtics have minimal stakes left for the final two games of the regular season as they’re locked into No. 7 in the East ahead of next Tuesday’s play-in tournament. While the Celtics don’t know what time tipoff will be, the NBA released the play-in tourney schedule, which has Boston hosting the No. 8 seed, which has yet to be determined, on Tuesday.
Could Boston Celtics rest players with playoff positioning almost solidified? Brad Stevens said it’s still undecided
Updated May 12, 2021;
Posted May 12, 2021
Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens yells to his players to head down court during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets, Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)AP
Facebook Share
To get to No. 6, the Celtics need to win out while the Knicks need to lose out. To fall below seventh place, the Celtics need to lose out while either Indiana or Charlotte wins out.
That means there is little competitive value that comes with the Celtics going all-out with their full roster especially if any players are injured or dealing with lingering pain. Boston coach Brad Stevens said they have yet to discuss that course of action as a staff; they plan to meet sometime Thursday to hash out those logistics.
For all of their disappointments this season, the Boston Celtics still have an opportunity to make some noise down the stretch if they take care of these.
Advertisement
Charlotte Hornets vs Boston Celtics: Injury report, predicted lineups and starting 5s - April 28th, 2021 | NBA Season 2020-21
Jaylen Brown (#7) of the Boston Celtics looks to shoot over Miles Bridges (#0) of the Charlotte Hornets.
SHARE
Action continues in the 2020-21 NBA with an Eastern Conference showdown between the Charlotte Hornets and the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden on Wednesday. Both sides have split their two meetings this season.
The visiting Charlotte Hornets have been struggling to stay in postseason contention in the East. James Borrego s men have lost seven of their past ten games to drop to 30-31 on the season. The eighth-placed Charlotte Hornets find themselves as the eighth seed and are just one game ahead of the ninth-placed Indiana Pacers.