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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MARCH 25: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the second half of the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at TD Garden on March 25, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Thunder 119-109.
The Boston Celtics are set to play the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, March 28.
Before the game, the Celtics announced their starting lineup and final injury report for the game against Atlanta.
Both announcements come amid Jayson Tatum news, as it was revealed by the NBA that he won the Player of the Week award in the Eastern Conference. He has played just 11 games since returning from an Achilles injury suffered last May.
Boston Celtics Announce Starting Lineup vs Hawks
GettyJaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics reacts to a foul called against him during the second half of the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at TD Garden on March 25, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts.
In the lead-up to the Monday night game, Boston gave the final call on their starting lineup.
According to the team, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheirrman, and Luka Garza all got the nod from head coach Joe Mazzulla.
This is a lineup that the Celtics had used a few times earlier in the season, but not much lately. However, based on their latest injury report, Mazzulla and the coaching staff were forced to go with a few players who have mainly come off the bench this season.
Celtics Injury Report vs Hawks
GettyBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MARCH 25: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the second half of the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at TD Garden on March 25, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Thunder 119-109.
Before the game, the Celtics also announced their final injury report.
The most notable absence for the 2024 NBA champions is Tatum, who is sitting out for injury management. As mentioned, Tatum has played in 11 games since making his injury return, but this isn’t the first time he’s skipped a game while still in the early stages of his comeback.
His addition to the injury report is not considered serious, just another precaution in hopes of having him healthy for a deep playoff run.
Tatum is averaging 20.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists on 39.9% shooting in his Achilles injury return.
Injury Report Update:
Ron Harper Jr – R Ankle Sprain – OUTNeemias Queta – R Thumb Sprain – OUTDerrick White – AVAILABLE https://t.co/3q2qgz1nxq
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 30, 2026
Boston also has Nikola Vucevic and Neemias Queta listed as out on Monday night. According to the team, both are dealing with hand injuries. Queta is not expected to be out for too long, while Vucevic, a trade deadline acquisition, is still recovering from surgery he underwent back in early March. Ron Harper Jr. is also out for the game with an ankle sprain.
Jayson Tatum Named Player of the Week
Before the Celtics vs. Hawks game, it was announced by the NBA that Tatum has been named Player of the Week for week 23 of the 2025-26 NBA season.
He won the award by averaging 25.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 6.7 assists while Boston went 3-0 in that span.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum have been named the NBA Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for Week 23 of the 2025-26 season (March 23-29).
Tatum scored 32 points on 12/23 field goal shooting while also 5/10 from deep, while also collecting five rebounds, eight assists, and a block in a 16-point victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday.
He also had 26 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists in their win over Atlanta earlier in the week, as well as 19 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals in the Celtics’ first win of the week against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Celtics are currently 50-24 and second in the Eastern Conference standings and have already clinched a postseason appearance, the team’s 12th in a row.
Eli Gregorski is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy Sports. He has years of sports writing experience covering the NBA, NFL, college football and basketball, international soccer, and Formula One. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he was the assistant sports editor for the award-winning CU Independent student publication. More about Eli Gregorski
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