With four games remaining and the Celtics still bidding for home-court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs, Al Horford and Lyrie Irving will probably play the next two games at Miami and Indiana this week. After that, Stevens said the team will play it by ear as to whether or not to rest Horford, Irving or other players down the stretch.
BOSTON – The late-season routine of monitoring playing time for NBA veterans is at hand, and the Celtics are doing their part.
Al Horford and Kyrie Irving sat out games at the end of March in order to get some rest with the playoffs due to start a week from Saturday or Sunday.
Horford, who has been dealing with left knee soreness, missed back-to-back games against the Charlotte Hornets and San Antonio Spurs on March 23 and 24, then was held out of Saturday night’s loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
Irving missed two of three games in the final days of March, missing a trip to Cleveland last Tuesday night and the game against the Nets.
Coach Brad Stevens had Horford and Irving back in the starting lineup on Monday night when the Celtics faced the Miami Heat at the TD Garden in their next-to-last home game.
With four games remaining and the Celtics still bidding for home-court advantage in the opening-round of the playoffs, Horford and Irving will probably play the next two games at Miami and Indiana this week.
After that, Stevens said the team will play it by ear as to whether or not to rest Horford, Irving or other players down the stretch. The Celtics kept Horford and Irving out against the Nets because they had played the previous night in a win over the Pacers.
“We won’t play them if they’re hurt or if they’re dealing with anything nagging right now,’’ said Stevens of his team. “The other day was a back-to-back and we had played a ton of minutes before that with Kyrie and Al.
“Both those guys are feeling pretty good. Al’s feeling better than he was last week at this time. As long as they feel good, then our plan is to play them.
“Obviously if we get to the point where we’re either secure in the fourth or fifth seed, maybe that changes our mindset a little bit towards the end of the week.’’
The Celtics and the Pacers, who went against the Detroit Pistons, entered Monday night tied for the fourth spot, making Friday night’s game in Indiana an important one.
One player who isn’t interested in getting any late-season rest is Gordon Hayward, who played less than one quarter in the 2017-18 season opener, then missed the remainder of the year with a gruesome ankle injury.
Hayward has missed 10 games this season, most recently due to a concussion suffered on March 16 against the Atlanta Hawks, which sidelined him for three games.
“I did a lot of that (sitting out) early on with my ankle and all of last year,’’ said Hayward. “Definitely as of right now, I’m pretty good as long as I don’t get another random concussion or anything like that.’’
Brown sits out: The Celtics were without Jaylen Brown for the game against the Heat after he developed back spasms prior to the morning shootaround at the team’s training facility.
“Right before shootaround, he literally bent over and just for whatever reason got his back,’’ said Stevens. “It’s not a long-term thing. We’re thinking he should be fine in the next couple of days.’’
Aron Baynes, who had his minutes reduced after hitting his knee during the Nets game, was ready to go against the Heat.
“He hit his knee the other day, so I was worried about a bone bruise or a knee bruise or extra swelling,’’ said Stevens. “Didn’t happen. Fine yesterday, fine today, ready to roll.’’
Finale for Wade: Dwyane Wade, who entered the NBA in 2003, played most likely his final TD Garden game when the Heat met the Celtics.
The 37-year-old Wade, who is retiring after this season, made his Garden debut on Oct. 29, 2003, when he was 2 for 12 and scoring only five points in a Heat loss to the Celtics.
The starting lineup for the Celtics that night was Paul Pierce, Mike James, Mark Blount, Vin Baker and Kedrick Brown.
“A special player,’’ said Stevens of Wade, who is averaged 14.4 points this season, 22 points for his career. “Obviously, amazing what he’s accomplished and amazing how he’s playing this year. Can’t say enough good things about him.
“Clearly, one of the many great leaders in this league and great representatives of the league. Hat’s off to him for a great career. He looks like he could go a few more years and we’re glad he’s doing something else.’’