Celtics Down a Starter and May Be Without Jaylen Brown vs. Sixers

The Celtics lead the third-seeded Sixers by three games. They've already won the season series and can clinch the two seed with a win Tuesday.

The Celtics are 9-3 in their last 12 games, and at 54-24, they have the second-best record in the NBA. Unfortunately for the defending Eastern Conference champions, even though they won their season series against the Bucks with a 140-99 steamrolling of the Bucks, at 56-22, Milwaukee is the one team above them in the standings.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and co. have a two-game cushion, and they and Boston have four matchups left on their regular-season slates. After Monday's practice at the Auerbach Center, Celtics' head coach Joe Mazzulla addressed whether his team will push to reclaim the one seed or prioritize resting players in this final stretch of the campaign.

Boston's injury report for Tuesday's tilt against the Sixers provides the first glimpse into the team's approach.

Robert Williams, who did not play in the Celtics' 122-114 win against the Jazz on Friday due to left knee injury management, is inactive for the regular-season finale vs. Philadelphia for the same reason.

Jaylen Brown, who, because of lower back pain, Boston listed as questionable for its matchup against Utah before he suited up, registered 12 points and four assists, with fatigue evident on the second night of a back-to-back that the Celtics didn't arrive in Boston for until six hours before tip-off due to travel delays.

As Brown articulated after the victory vs. the Bucks, the focus is ensuring his team hones in and reinforces winning habits entering the playoffs. But as the two-time All-Star pushes for an All-NBA spot, stat lines like Friday's do more harm to his case than resting. Plus, the Celtics want to be as fresh as possible for the playoffs.

If Brown, who's generating 26.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, which are both on pace to represent career highs, and he's dishing out 3.4 assists and swiping 1.1 steals per contest, makes an All-NBA team, he'd become eligible this summer for a five-year $290 million supermax extension.

Qualifying for it would make it easier for Boston to ensure the tandem of Brown and Jayson Tatum continue leading the franchise for at least the next few seasons and, ideally, much longer.

Further Reading

Will the Celtics Prioritize Push for the 1 Seed or Rest? Joe Mazzulla Sheds Light on Boston's Approach

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

Joe Mazzulla and Will Hardy Discuss Becoming Head Coaches, What the Former Learned from the Latter and Hardy's Evaluation of the Celtics

Jayson Tatum Discusses Closing in on Another Milestone

Jayson Tatum Wasn't Supposed to Play vs. the Jazz, But Celtics' Travel Delay Added to His Motivation to 'Go Through it with the Guys'

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Win vs. Jazz: On a Chippy Night in Boston, Counterpunches Propel the Hosts to Victory

The Celtics are Proud of Their Growth, Including Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown's Maturation: 'I think We're a Better Team'

Former Warriors' Director of Performance Keke Lyles Shares His Perspective on Load Management, Changing Stephen Curry's Movement Patterns, And What's Helped Jayson Tatum's Durability