The Latest on the Health Front for Friday's Celtics-Hornets Game

On Friday night at TD Garden, the Boston Celtics host the Charlotte Hornets and welcome back Grant Williams.

As the C's prepare for his return and finish out the regular season, with home-court advantage for the duration of their playoff run secured, they've shifted into cruise control.

Being less than fully engaged against their last two opponents, the Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks, who are fighting for playoff positioning in the bottlenecked Eastern Conference standings, has led to consecutive losses in convincing fashion.

Boston trailed by 20 at halftime on Tuesday in Milwaukee before losing 104-91. On Thursday night, the starters got pulled before the third quarter ended. The hosts entered the last 12 minutes trailing 100-71 before their bench outscored the visitors 38-18, making for a misleading 118-109 final score that suggests the matchup was far more competitive than it was.

"We ran into our last two games against two teams that are highly, highly desperate," voiced Joe Mazzulla after Thursday's loss to the Knicks. "And as much as we want to be able to simulate that, that's just not the position that we're in."

And while Jaylen Brown's ready for the Celtics to "nip that in the bud," it will likely take until the playoffs for them to resemble the team that's accumulated 62 wins, tied for the sixth most in the regular season in franchise history.

Still, they have two tilts left as they continue playing out the string. The first of which is Friday's against the Hornets on the second night of a back-to-back.

As Boston paces itself in this final stretch, every member of its starting lineup is on its initial injury report for its game vs. Charlotte.

Brown is questionable due to a left-hand sprain. Jayson Tatum shares that status because of a right knee contusion. So does Jrue Holiday as a result of left patella tendinopathy. 

Right hamstring injury management has Kristaps Porzingis uncertain for this matchup. And a left ankle sprain may keep Derrick White from suiting up. Al Horford is questionable for the contest due to a left big toe sprain.

Further Reading

'Nip That in the Bud': Celtics Address End-of-Season Struggles

Jrue Holiday on Celtics Extension: 'Try to Get More Banners, Get More Rings'

Aiming to Maximize Championship Window, Celtics Extend Jrue Holiday

Neemias Queta Inks New Deal with Celtics

Seldom-Used Celtics Reserve Showcasing Playoff Value

Jaylen Brown Shares What Latest Milestone Means to Him

Celtics Embracing Challenge to Go Beyond Most Talented

Jayson Tatum Opens Up About Sacrificing in Celtics' Title Pursuit: 'It's a Process'

Marcus Smart Shares How Boston Shaped Him, His Message to Celtics Fans

Celtics Maturation Molded by Experience: 'It Builds, Like, an Armor'

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'