Celtics injury report: 4 starters added for Thursday’s game vs. Knicks

The Celtics could be extremely shorthanded on Thursday night when they face off against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden with a chance to clinch the No. 2 seed. Boston listed four starters as questionable for the matchup on Wednesday with Jaylen Brown (Achilles tendinitis), Sam Hauser (back spasms), Neemias Queta (toe sprain) and Derrick White (knee contusion) all uncertain to play.

A win for Boston or any Knicks loss in the final three games of the regular season will lock the Celtics into the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference for the playoffs. Boston currently holds a three-game lead over the Knicks in the standings but the Knicks own the head-to-head tiebreaker.

The Celtics are playing the front end of a back-to-back against the Knicks on Thursday night before returning home Friday night to face the lottery bound Pelicans at TD Garden. Given that the team may be choosing not to play their starters on both ends of the back-to-back, resting the majority of them Friday to increase the odds a win against the Pelicans could be the smart strategic play.

• BETTING: Celtics moneyline is currently listed at -120 on BetMGM for Thursday’s game versus New York. Our comprehensive BetMGM Sportsbook review provides a full guide on how to register and use their platform.

One Celtics starter who will be playing on Thursday night is Jayson Tatum, as he revealed he plans to make his return to the court at Madison Square Garden for the first time since rupturing his Achilles tendon last May.

“I’m not like thrilled to go back and play there,” Tatum said Wednedsay night. “Last time I played there obviously it was a traumatic experience for me. Obviously I knew at some point I would have to get over that hurdle and play there again. So, it’s gonna have to be this Thursday, but it’s not like I’m thrilled about it. But it’s part of it. I decided to come back and play so I’m not necessarily skipping certain games. I can’t play back-to-backs right now but I decided to come back and play so it’s just another game on the schedule.”

The Knicks’ regular rotation will be fully healthy for Thursday’s matchup with reserve Tyler Kolek (oblique strain) the only player on the injury report for New York. He’s questionable.

The Celtics and Knicks will tip off at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday night in a nationally televised broadcast on Amazon Prime.

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