Jordan

Walsh

González will get some extra rest after being a late addition to the injury report. Jordan Walsh and Baylor Scheierman should both play significant roles in this game with so many Celtics sidelined for the regular season finale.

As expected, Hauser will be unavailable for this game. Boston has already clinched the No. 2 seed in the East, so there is no reason for Hauser to suit up. Baylor Scheierman and Jordan Walsh should take on much larger roles.

Friday’s win over the Pelicans secured the No. 2 seed for the Celtics, giving them nothing to play for in Sunday’s regular-season finale. Brown and Tatum not playing frees up playing time for Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, Hugo González and recent signing Dalano Banton.

While he wasn’t Joe Mazzulla’s choice to fill in for the injured Jaylen Brown (Achilles), Scheierman still provided key offensive contributions on Thursday. The second-year wing made six of his seven three-point attempts, matching his career-high in points. In fact, Scheierman totaled 21 points over his previous five appearances. Jordan Walsh received the starting nod in New York, and he finished with five points, two rebounds, one assist and one three-pointer. Scheierman has the higher offensive ceiling, and that’s how things played out on Thursday.

The Celtics won’t have Jaylen Brown for Thursday’s game, as he sits due to an Achilles injury. He’s been replaced in the lineup by Walsh, who will be more valuable defensively than as a scorer. It would be unsurprising if he were given the task of defending Jalen Brunson.

While Brown was present at pregame shootaround, the Celtics’ star did not participate. He’s now officially out, which could result in Jordan Walsh or Hugo González moving into the starting lineup.

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.

Tatum will be back after missing Monday’s game against Atlanta, which was the second leg of a back-to-back. His return should push Jordan Walsh back to the bench after he started two straight games.

White and Brown are back in the Celtics’ starting lineup after missing Sunday’s win over the Hornets. However, Jayson Tatum and Neemias Queta are out. Scheierman and Garza will start after coming off the bench on Sunday, and Walsh remains in the starting lineup at Sam Hauser’s expense.

The Celtics won’t have Derrick White or Jaylen Brown for Sunday’s game. They’ve been replaced in the lineup by Pritchard and Walsh, with the latter offering a bit more defensively than Baylor Scheierman.