Jaylen Brown was back in the Celtics’ lineup Wednesday after a one-game absence, but three other Boston regulars sat against the Miami Heat at TD Garden.
Brown and center Luke Kornet both returned after missing Monday night’s road win over the Memphis Grizzlies with a knee injury and an illness, respectively. Brown, who’s also dealt with hip, shoulder and ankle injuries this season, must play in at least six of Boston’s final seven games to reach the 65-game threshold for All-NBA consideration.
Starters Jrue Holiday (right shoulder impingement) and Kristaps Porzingis (return from illness reconditioning) and top reserve Al Horford (left big toe sprain) all were ruled out for the home matchup with Miami as the Celtics work to keep their roster fresh for the looming postseason.
Horford and Holiday are Boston’s two oldest players, and Porzingis has missed extended time this season with lower-leg injuries and a recent illness. Horford is coming off one of his best games of the season (season-high 26 points, eight rebounds against Memphis) and Porzingis is averaging 21.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game since his return to the lineup.
Holiday’s DNP renders him ineligible for All-Defensive Team consideration, as he now cannot play in 65 games this season. The 34-year-old guard was a first- or second-team All-Defensive selection in six of the last seven seasons. Holiday, who has sported a cast on his right pinky since suffering a mallet finger injury in late February, scored 39 points over his last two outings, going 9-for-13 from 3-point range.
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