The Celtics will be without their top six players for Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Wizards at TD Garden.
On Saturday afternoon, Boston announced that six players would be out due to injuries, including Jaylen Brown (rest), Jayson Tatum (rest), Jrue Holiday (left patella tendinopathy), Al Horford (rest), Kristaps Porzingis (rest), and Derrick White (left ankle sprain).
It will be the second consecutive game that the whole starting lineup will miss as the team takes precautions with its core heading into the postseason.
Boston’s backups dominated the Hornets on Friday night, with Payton Pritchard setting a career high in the win. Boston still has nothing to play for in the standings in Game 82 after winning homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs last month.
With six players out, Boston will look further down the depth chart for playing time.
Four players (Jordan Walsh, Neemias Queta, Drew Peterson, and Pritchard) set career highs in points against the Hornets on Friday night, and they should have plenty of opportunities to do the same against the Wizards.
These two-way players, along with Walsh, will represent Maine in the G-League Finals on Monday night.
Boston’s regulars will also be watching the scoreboard on Sunday afternoon, as there are a number of key games going place across the Eastern Conference that will determine the Celtics’ likely first round opponent.
There are still six teams who might enter the play-in round and earn the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Celtics and Wizards will face off at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday at TD Garden.