The final few weeks of the season is always an interesting balance of rest, managing injuries, and fighting for playoff seeding.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Celtics<\/a> have a little bit of a pad over the New York Knicks<\/a> with a two game lead in the loss column and nine games to go. The Knicks have eight games left and, according to Tankathon, the third-toughest remaining schedule in the NBA. So the Celtics might feel they have a little leeway to get some rest in and get some of their key players healthy.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Celtics have listed four starters on their injury report ahead of Sunday night\u2019s game against the Charlotte Hornets. All of them are currently listed as questionable for the game. A fifth Celtic, Nikola Vu\u010devi\u0107, remains out with the fractured right ring finger<\/a>.<\/p>\n Neemias Queta<\/a> is back on the list with a right thumb sprain. He was on the injury report ahead of the Atlanta Hawks game with the same issue, but played without any sort of wrap on his thumb or hand. Whatever the injury is, it appears to be a minor issue.\u00a0<\/p>\n Derrick White<\/a> remains on the list with the right knee contusion. He suffered that in San Antonio and it cost him one game, the loss in Oklahoma City, so far.\u00a0<\/p>\n Jaylen Brown<\/a> remains on the report with left Achilles tendinitis<\/a>. That issue kept him out of the game against the Hawks, but Joe Mazzulla characterized it as a \u201cday-to-day\u201d thing and nothing long-term. To that end, Brown was featured on Celtics social media outlets traveling with the team on their road trip to Charlotte, Atlanta, and Miami, and he was photographed without any sort of brace or obvious wrap on his foot. He was also on the bench for the win over Atlanta and seemed to be moving without a noticeable limp, so that’s a good sign as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n The treatment for tendinitis can be as simple as rest, ice, and antiinflammatory medicine. The Celtics may feel they can take a conservative approach with the pad they have in the standings.\u00a0<\/p>\n