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Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker and Jaylen Brown are among the players that will sit on Thursday as the Boston Celtics play their eighth and final seeding game against the Washington Wizards.
The Celtics announced that six total players will sit in the last game prior to the start of the playoffs after securing the third seed in the Eastern Conference. Boston will play either the Indiana Pacers or Philadelphia 76ers in the first round.
With six rotational players set to sit on Thursday, several of the Celtics’ rookies — like Romeo Langford, Grant Williams, Carsen Edwards, Tremont Waters and Tacko Fall — project to get extended minutes after playing sparingly thus far during the season restart.
#NEBHInjuryReport tomorrow vs. Washington:
Jaylen Brown (rest) – OUT
Gordon Hayward (rest) – OUT
Marcus Smart (rest) – OUT
Jayson Tatum (left ankle sprain) – OUT
Daniel Theis (right foot soreness) – OUT
Kemba Walker (left knee rehab) – OUT— Boston Celtics (@celtics) August 12, 2020
While some teams with little to play for have used the restart as an opportunity to get playing time for rookies or younger players, Celtics head coach Brad Stevens has used his starters and veterans almost exclusively to test rotations ahead of the postseason.
The rookie players on the Celtics likely won’t see much time once the playoffs begin so Thursday will serve as an opportunity to get some run in during the final seeding game.
The Celtics will tip-off against the Wizards at 12 p.m. ET.
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