As the C's look to capture the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, they'll have to do so without one of their stars.
The Boston Celtics are looking to wrap up the Atlantic Division title on Thursday night against the New York Knicks (7:30 p.m. ET), but they'll have to do it without superstar Jaylen Brown, who has been ruled out with left Achilles tendinitis.
Brown had been listed as questionable on Wednesday's report. Sam Hauser, Derrick White and Neemias Queta are all still questionable and will have their availabilities known closer to gametime.
The Celtics enter play at 54-25 with three games left in the regular season. The Knicks are 51-29, meaning that a win not only gives the Celtics the Atlantic Division title, but it also wraps up the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
As the No. 2 seed, the Celtics will play the No. 7 seed, which will be determined via the NBA's "play-in tournament" that features teams 7-10.
Right now, the No. 7 seed is the Orlando Magic, the No. 8 is the Philadelphia 76ers and the Charlotte Hornets are the No. 9. The Miami Heat are the No. 10.
If the standings hold this way through the rest of the season, the Magic would play the 76ers with the winner getting the No. 7 seed. The Heat and Hornets would play each other, with the winner of that game playing the loser of the first game. The winner of that game gets the No. 8 seed.
About Brown
The MVP candidate had 35 points to lead the Celtics past the Hornets the last time out, also going 13-of-29 from the floor. He grabbed nine rebounds as well. With his output, he became the eighth player in Celtics history to score 2,000 points or more in a single season. He joins Larry Bird, Paul Pierce, Jayson Tatum, John Havlicek, Sam Jones, Kevin McHale and Isaiah Thomas.
It's been that kind of season for Brown, who just earned his third Eastern Conference Player of the Week Award. He was just the subject of a big ESPN story that talked extensively about his preparation and leadership this season.
What we're looking for tonight
--First off: The health of three other players on the injury report
--Second off: How Jayson Tatum handles the emotion of returning to MSG, where he suffered a torn Achilles in the playoffs last season.
--Third off: If Nikola Vucevic can get going before the playoffs. He had just two points in his second game back from a fractured finger.
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