Terry Rozier missed practice Monday with an ankle injury while Shane Larkin was hospitalized with the flu and Kyrie Irving and Marcus Smart are recovering from surgeries.
WALTHAM – There were times last Saturday night when Jayson Tatum turned back the clock to his high school days and played point guard.
The Celtics 6-foot-8 rookie forward was pressed into service to bring the ball up and get the offense going because three of the team’s point guard – Kyrie Irving, Marcus Smart and Shane Larkin – were unavailable.
So coach Brad Stevens had to improvise during a 110-99 win over the Toronto Raptors, playing Terry Rozier 37 minutes and having Tatum and forward Al Horford initiate the offense in his absence.
When the Celtics begin a two-game road trip in Milwaukee against the Bucks Tuesday night (8:05 p.m., TV: NBC Sports Boston; radio: WZLX-100.7 FM), there figures to be more improvising at the point guard spot.
Prior to practice on Monday, Stevens listed Rozier as questionable with a left ankle injury, though Rozier said he would be able to play.
Larkin was released from the hospital Sunday night following a two-day stay because of the flu, and he was not on the team’s plane to Milwaukee Monday afternoon. There is a chance Larkin could join the team in Wisconsin if he receives medical clearance.
Winners of six consecutive games, the Celtics are limping toward the finish line of the regular season with the playoffs set to open April 14-15.
They are still in the running for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, trailing the Raptors by two games with a rematch in Canada on Wednesday night. But Stevens will have devise a plan to get around the latest ailments.
“Brad, I think he’s the coach of the year, so he’ll figure out a scheme to make everything flow the way it normally flows,’’ said Jaylen Brown. “In Brad we trust, so we know he’ll figure it out.’’
Rozier was hurt with less than five minutes to go in the win over the Raptors. At first, Rozier thought it injured his knee, but later on Saturday night, the ankle was hurting.
“I’m good,’’ said Rozier, who did not practice Monday. “I thought it was going to be my knee, wasn’t my knee. Then my Achilles started hurting after the game and by the time I got home all the pain transferred to me ankle.
“I’m fine. I iced it a lot (Sunday) and I feel good, feel way better today than I did (Sunday) and I’m definitely playing tomorrow.’’
Stevens said the Celtics would be cautious with Rozier, knowing his importance in the playoffs with Irving and Smart recovering from surgeries.
“Obviously we’re not going to play him if it’s hurting him because he’s going to be incredibly important as we move forward,’’ said Stevens.
Rozier and Tatum are the only Celtics to play in all 76 games this season and Rozier has taken over as a starter in Irving’s absence.
“I’m not a guy that just wants to sit out if I don’t have a legit reason,’’ said Rozier. “I’m fine. I can play. My ankle’s not super bad. Where I hurt it in Golden State was way worse than this one. I feel good about it.’’
Larkin became ill during the recent four-game road trip and was not with the team for the game against the Raptors. Horford had a similar illness that forced him out of action recently.
Despite all that has happened to the Celtics lately, they continue to win as holes keep getting plugged.
“We’ve got a lot of good players,’’ said Rozier. “We find ways. Coach does a good job of putting us in a position to be successful.’’