Celtics and Hawks Shorthanded for Regular-Season Finale

The Celtics and Hawks are operating with skeleton crews for Sunday's regular-season finale.

The Celtics will finish this season with the second-best record in the NBA. The defending Eastern Conference champions are 56-25 entering their regular-season finale against the Hawks.

Unfortunately for Boston, the only team with a better record resides in its conference. The Bucks are the one team the Celtics would not have home-court advantage against in the playoffs, including if they return to the NBA Finals.

Between being locked into the second seed and how well Boston's played down the stretch, most notably earning a 140-99 win in Milwaukee in arguably its best two-way performance this season, the Celtics have leaned into load management as they prepare for the playoffs.

The hosts of Sunday's matinee at TD Garden are without Jayson Tatum (left hip contusion), Jaylen Brown (right finger laceration), Al Horford (low back stiffness), Marcus Smart (left-side neck spasm), and Robert Williams (left knee soreness), and Malcolm Brogdon (low back pain).

The Hawks are also operating with a skeleton crew. Trae Young, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Dejounte Murray, Clint Capela, and John Collins are inactive. 

Atlanta plays the Heat in a play-in tournament game in Miami on Tuesday.

Tip-off between the Celtics and Hawks on Sunday is at 1:00 p.m. EST. Inside The Celtics will have content related to the game before, during, and afterward. And follow @BobbyKrivitsky on Twitter for updates and analysis from pregame to post.

Further Reading

Jayson Tatum is Ready for the Challenges that Await the Celtics in the Playoffs: 'We've Not Been Waiting for it But Working for it'

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Win vs. Raptors: Boston's Defense and Offensive Approach Produce Blowout Victory

Nick Nurse Provides His Evaluation of Former Raptor and Newest Celtic, Justin Champagnie

Jaylen Brown Shares What Winning the Red Auerbach Award Means to Him: 'I've Put My Everything Into This Team, I've Put My Everything Into This City'

Celtics Discuss Malcolm Brogdon's Sixth Man of the Year Candidacy

Joe Mazzulla Reacts to the Celtics Clinching the Two Seed in the East

Jaylen Brown on His Relationship with Jayson Tatum: 'We’re a Part of Each Other’s Destiny'

[Film Room] What the Celtics Did to Slow Down Giannis Antetokounmpo in Blowout vs. Bucks