CELTICS NOTEBOOK: Kyrie Irving sits out second game with knee injury

The Celtics guard may play in Sunday night's NBA All-Star Game or he could play again when the season resumes next Thursday night in Milwaukee.

BOSTON – The next time Kyrie Irving plays will either be next week when the Celtics’ season resumes or this weekend in the NBA All-Star Game.

Irving sat out his second straight game due to a strained knee Wednesday night when the Celtics faced the Detroit Pistons at the TD Garden.

He was injured during the first half of last Saturday night’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers and an MRI showed there was no damage other than the strain.

The Celtics do not play again until a week from Thursday night in Milwaukee when they open a three-game road trip against the Bucks. Irving has been selected to play on LeBron James’ team in Sunday night’s Zll-Star game in Charlotte.

Coach Brad Stevens said that if Irving’s knee is 100 percent, he should take part in the All-Star game to get some minutes in before the Celtics start playing again.

“I think there would be a chance, if we played Friday or Saturday, that he’d be cleared,’’ said Stevens. “I guess my thought would be is if he would have been cleared for us on Friday or Saturday, then he should probably play (in the All-Star game).

“If there’s any issues at all and you’re not 110 percent then (don’t) play. The reason I say that is you’re going to have to get some basketball activity in regardless. You need to get up and down the court.

“We can’t do anything per NBA rules until mid-next week when we get back together, so to me, it makes sense if he’s 100 percent. He’s got to be 100 percent.’’

Irving received treatment on the knee before the game and was not available for comment.

Irving has missed 10 games this season for various reasons, and when he’s been out, Terry Rozier has started at point guard.

That changed against the Pistons, though, because Rozier and reserve center Robert Williams were sidelined because of an illness.

“The stomach bug that’s hit the rest of the world hit the Celtics in a flurry in the last 48 hours,’’ said Stevens.

Marcus Smart was the starting point guard backed up by Brad Wanamaker. Gordon Hayward, coming off one of his better games with the Celtics, moved into the starting lineup.

Hayward made 8-of-11 shots, hitting 6 of 7 of his 3-pointers, and scored 26 points in Tuesday night’s win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

That’s the first time a Celtics bench player has scored at least 26 points with six 3-pointers since Eddie House did so 10 years ago last month.

Thomas returns: Isaiah Thomas, who had played only 30 games since the Celtics traded him to the Cleveland Cavaliers in August 2017, returned to the NBA Wednesday night with the Denver Nuggets.

Thomas, who signed a one-year, $1.5-million contract after dealing with lingering hip issues, played against his former team, the Sacramento Kings. Stevens was going to watch Thomas’ first game since last March 22 when he was with the Los Angeles Lakers.

“Right after the game, when I got home, the DVR is set,’’ said Stevens. “That’s what I’ll be doing after the game. I can’t wait to watch that game tonight.’’

Thomas averaged 24.7 points in 179 games over two-plus seasons with the Celtics before being sent to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Irving trade.

Horford watch: After playing 36 minutes and going against Joel Embiid on Tuesday, Al Horford’s playing time was going to be monitored against the Pistons.

“We’ll manage his minutes appropriately, not necessarily in total, but he’ll probably play in shorter stints,’’ said Stevens. “It’s one game and then we have seven days off.

“We talked about it. Tomorrow, we’re going to be sore and that’s part of feeling good about yourself if you’re sore and you’ve done well. Hopefully we leave it all out there.’’

Around the rim: The Celtics don’t return to the Garden until Feb. 27 when they close out the month against the Portland Trail Blazers. … Williams, who had been dealing with a back issue in recent weeks, missed another chance for minutes because of his illness. The Celtics were shorthanded up front with Aron Baynes still out with a foot ailment. “Obviously it changes how we have to play and it’s one less big without Robert against another big, physical team,’’ said Stevens. … The starting lineup used by Stevens against the Pistons was the 17th different one this season.