{"id":709232,"date":"2026-04-12T21:36:42","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T21:36:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/709232\/"},"modified":"2026-04-12T21:36:42","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T21:36:42","slug":"celtics-announce-bold-starting-lineup-decision-vs-magic-in-regular-season-finale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/709232\/","title":{"rendered":"Celtics Announce Bold Starting Lineup Decision Vs Magic In Regular Season Finale"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Boston\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 17: Head coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics reacts against the Atlanta Hawks during the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena on January 17, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. <\/p>\n

The Boston Celtics<\/a> are playing the Orlando Magic<\/a> on Sunday, April 12, in what is the final day of the 2025-26 NBA<\/a> regular season and the last game of the year for both teams.<\/p>\n

As franchises around the NBA are sitting and resting players<\/a> in hopes of keeping them healthy for a deep postseason run, the Celtics are no different, featuring a lengthy injury report<\/a> for their game against the Magic.<\/p>\n

Before the game, Boston also announced its starting lineup for the regular season finale against Orlando.<\/p>\n

Celtics Announce Starting Lineup Vs Magic\"Joe<\/p>\n

GettyDETROIT, MICHIGAN \u2013 OCTOBER 26: Joe Mazzulla head coach of the Boston Celtics looks on against the Detroit Pistons<\/a> during the third quarter at Little Caesars Arena on October 26, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.<\/p>\n

In the lead-up to the ESPN matchup, the Celtics confirmed their starting lineup for the game with a post on social media.<\/p>\n

Max Shulga<\/a>, Baylor Scheierman<\/a>, Ron Harper Jr<\/a>., Jordan Walsh<\/a>, and Luka Garza<\/a> were all named starters by Joe Mazzulla and the coaching staff.<\/p>\n

This is a starting lineup the Celtics haven\u2019t used this season, but as it\u2019s the last game of the year, and the team is hoping to remain healthy for the playoffs, it\u2019s a group they\u2019ll have to use against the Magic.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sheiermann, Walsh, and Garza have each started on a few occasions this season, but it\u2019s the first time Shulga is starting in his career, while it\u2019s just Harper\u2019s third start of the year for Boston on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Celtics Injury Report<\/p>\n

Like many other teams in the NBA, it\u2019s a loaded injury report<\/a> for the Celtics in their game against Orlando.<\/p>\n

Jayson Tatum<\/a>, Jaylen Brown<\/a>, Derrick White<\/a>, Payton Pritchard<\/a>, Sam Hauser<\/a>, Neemias Queta<\/a>, Nikola Vucevic<\/a>, and Hugo Gonzalez<\/a> have all been ruled out for Boston, either due to injury management or rest.<\/p>\n

Celtics Injury Report Update for tonight:<\/p>\n

Hugo Gonzalez \u2013 Right Foot Bone Bruise \u2013 OUTSam Hauser \u2013 Low Back Spasm \u2013 OUTPayton Pritchard \u2013 Left Foot Plantar Fasciitis \u2013 OUTNikola Vucevic \u2013 Right Ring Finger Fracture Management \u2013 OUT https:\/\/t.co\/9mM18RBnv3<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\u2014 Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

None of those players are expected to miss much or any time outside of the Sunday game, but as so many other teams are doing, holding players out for the final day of the year is the situation in Boston on Sunday.<\/p>\n

The Celtics previously had all of their players healthy, and that is expected to be the case when the postseason begins.<\/p>\n

Celtics Playoffs Scenarios\"Boston<\/p>\n

GettyBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS \u2013 APRIL 29: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics and Jaylen Brown #7 look on in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Orlando Magic at TD Garden on April 29, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts.<\/p>\n

The Celtics have clinched the second seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.<\/a><\/p>\n

While they were previously at risk of losing that seed to the New York Knicks<\/a>, they\u2019ve since held onto that spot in the final days of the year.<\/p>\n

But while Boston knows its playoff position, their first-round opponent is yet to be determined, and won\u2019t be until the Play-In Tournament concludes.<\/p>\n

Three teams are contending for one automatic playoff spot (top six) in the East. Here\u2019s how each can clinch:<\/p>\n

\u25aa\ufe0fToronto: with a win OR losses by Orlando AND Philadelphia.<\/p>\n

\u25aa\ufe0fOrlando: with a win AND a Toronto loss.<\/p>\n

\u25aa\ufe0fPhiladelphia: with a win AND losses by Toronto AND Orlando. https:\/\/t.co\/0Ov4tn3tik<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\u2014 NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The Celtics have the potential of playing either the Toronto Raptors<\/a>, Philadelphia 76ers<\/a>, or the Magic, depending on how both the final day of the regular season and the Play-In Tournament finish out.<\/p>\n

But for now, it\u2019s been a strong season for Boston in what many thought would be a gap year. They saw the return of Tatum<\/a> and an MVP-caliber season from Brown, and outperformed expectations after losing a ton of top talent.<\/p>\n

Celtics vs. Magic tips off at 6 pm EST on ESPN.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tEli Gregorski<\/a> 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<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

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