Derrick

White

The Celtics have already ruled out four of their five starters for Sunday’s regular-season finale, as the outcome will not impact their playoff seeding. White’s absence should free up additional minutes for Ron Harper Jr. and Max Shulga. As for Queta, there will be more playing time available for Luka Garza, and Amari Williams could get rotation minutes as well.

White will play both games of the Celtics’ back-to-back, with the team still one win away from guaranteeing itself the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Pelicans are shorthanded, so this may be a spot where the Celtics can give their available regulars a little more time on the bench.

Despite dealing with a knee contusion, White will be available on Thursday when the Celtics take the floor at Madison Square Garden. White provides high-level perimeter defense and a balance of scoring and playmaking on the offensive end. He’s averaged 18.7 points against the Knicks in their three matchups this season.

Questionable with a right knee contusion, White did some shooting during Thursday’s pregame session and was in his practice uniform. However, Jaylen Brown (Achilles) was not in uniform. Both remain questionable for Thursday night’s game, with the Celtics one win away from sewing up the No. 2 seed in the East.

Thursday’s game is the first of two in as many nights for the Celtics, who are one win away from locking up the two-seed for the Eastern Conference playoffs. While White sitting would likely push Payton Pritchard into the starting lineup, Jordan Walsh and Hugo González would have more prominent roles if Brown can’t play.

While he did make 75 percent of his shot attempts in Wednesday’s win over the Heat, White attempted just four shots. Friday’s performance does a lot more in terms of boosting the confidence of those rostering the Celtics guard, who shot 37.1 percent from the field in his previous nine appearances going into Milwaukee. White shot over 50 percent from the field, and even though the final stat line did not have any defensive stats, the assists and three-pointers were good.

Back in the Celtics’ lineup after missing Sunday’s win over the Hornets, White had a tough night shooting the basketball in Atlanta. He made one of his six attempts from three and was not much better from two, shooting 2-of-6. However, as has been the case throughout the season, White found other ways to add value. The Celtics’ guard finished with a complete stat line, helping lessen the impact of the poor shooting. Over the last two weeks, White has been shooting 33.8 percent from the field, which is low for a player of his caliber. The Celtics play three more games in Week 23, starting with the Heat on Wednesday.

White will face the Hawks on the second game of a back-to-back for the Celtics after missing Sunday’s contest against the Hornets. White’s most recent outing came against the same Hawks, against whom he tallied 10 points, four rebounds, and five assists. Fantasy managers who roster the versatile guard will hope for a more productive performance in the rematch against Atlanta.

No surprises here after Brown and White sat out the first leg of Boston’s back-to-back set. Brown and White should reclaim their spots in the starting lineup which will mean less run for Baylor Scheierman and Payton Pritchard.

White was initially listed as questionable with a knee contusion and has since been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Hornets. Last year’s Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard will move into the starting lineup, replacing White.