CELTICS NOTEBOOK: Kyrie Irving to miss game against 76ers

The Celtics guard will sit out Tuesday night because of a strained right knee suffered last Saturday against the Los Angeles Clippers.

BOSTON – The Celtics will be without Kyrie Irving when they attempt to move into a fourth-place tie in the Eastern Conference Tuesday night.

Irving, who suffered a right knee strain on Saturday, did not make the trip to Philadelphia where the Celtics will take on the new-look 76ers (8:05 p.m., TV: TNT; radio: WROR-FM/105.7).

He was at the Auerbach Center but did not take part in a practice session on Monday before the team departed for Philadelphia.

Whether Irving is able to play on Wednesday night when the Celtics host the Detroit Pistons remains to be seen. That is the final game before the team has seven days off for the NBA All-Star break, so it would seem likely he would be held out again.

“Kyrie’s not going (to Philadelphia),’’ coach Brad Stevens told reporters after the workout. “I have no idea what that means for Wednesday.’’

Irving was hurt with less than five minutes to go in the first half of Saturday night’s 123-112 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers when he tried to get around a screen set by Ivica Zubac. An MRI that was done on Sunday showed no severe damage to the knee.

The Celtics are 7-2 in Irving’s absence this season with the losses coming on the road against the Utah Jazz on Nov. 9 and the Brooklyn Nets on Jan. 14.

Terry Rozier started in Irving’s place last season when he underwent two procedures on his left knee and has started all nine times in Irving’s absence this season.

This marks the seventh time in Irving’s eight years in the NBA that he has missed at least 10 games. He sat out just seven games in the 2014-15 season.

Irving is scheduled to start in Sunday night’s All-Star Game in Charlotte after being picked on former teammate LeBron James’ squad.

First trip to Philly: After defeating the Sixers at home on opening night and on Christmas Day, the Celtics are playing in Philadelphia for the first time this season. They will return there on March 20 to complete the season series.

The Celtics were 7-2 against the Sixers last season, including 4-1 in the second round of the playoffs.

The 76ers have made some major acquisitions this season in adding Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris. All five starters are averaging at least 16.7 points.

“Philadelphia is playing great,’’ said Stevens. “They were really good (prior to landing Harris from the Clippers), like really good. Now they’re pretty close to ridiculous. That’s a heck of a team.’’

Dozier recalled: The Celtics recalled P.J. Dozier from the Maine Red Claws of the G League for the game against the 76ers, beefing up the backcourt depth with Irving out.

Dozier, who is on a two-way contract, has appeared in four games, playing 10 minutes for the Celtics. He has started 33 games for the Red Claws and is averaging 21.5 points, seven assists and 6.8 rebounds.