Boston Celtics DVOA, Stats, & NBA Rankings

Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (back) has been ruled out for Friday's tilt versus the Sacramento Kings. The 60-16 Celtics have clinched the Association's best record, so fantasy managers could be without other Boston stars in the final few games of the year. White's next opportunity to return from a lower back contusion arrives on Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers. In the star guard's absence on Friday, Payton Pritchard could leap into the first unit alongside Jrue Holiday in the backcourt. In his last four appearances when White was out of the lineup, Pritchard averaged 15.5 points, 6.5 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 2.5 three-pointers and is in line for an uptick in minutes against a Sacramento squad that prioritizes offense over defense.

Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (hand) has been ruled out for Friday's matchup with the Sacramento Kings. The fact that the 60-16 Celtics have clinched the NBA's best record likely spells bad news for fantasy managers in the waning games of the season. Brown's next chance to return from a sprained left hand comes on Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers, but Boston has no incentive to push the two-way All-Star swingman back into the fray. Either Al Horford or Sam Hauser should jump into the starting lineup on Friday. Over nine games without Brown in 2023-24, Hauser is averaging 13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 4.1 three-pointers and is a good source of points and threes in fantasy against a Kings team yielding the seventh-most treys to opposing small forwards (2.9).

Chicago Bulls forward Torrey Craig (knee) has been listed as probable for the matchup against the New York Knicks on Friday. After a couple of stints on the sidelines, Craig has been in the midst of his second-longest healthy streak of the year. He's played in all but three games in March and April so far and has received some spot starts in the meantime. During this stretch, Craig has averaged 5.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.4 made threes across 18.0 minutes per game. His fantasy-relevance is limited, but can be a streaming option whenever others in the Bulls' lineup are injured.

Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (back) has been listed as questionable for Friday's matchup against the Kings. He's on the injury report with a lower back contusion. The versatile guard has been quite durable for Boston and would be out for only the seventh time this season if he doesn't feel well enough to play. Payton Pritchard has been the main beneficiary of Boston's backcourt injuries and should receive a larger role again on Friday without White. Jaylen Brown (hand) is also questionable for the game, and his absence would give Pritchard even more fantasy value. It's a good matchup as well from a fantasy perspective, as Sacramento plays with a higher pace than Boston but struggles defensively.

Boston Celtics guard/forward Jaylen Brown (hand) is considered questionable for Friday's tilt against Sacramento. Brown has revealed that he has a strained ligament in his left hand, but this didn't keep him from filling up the box score on Wednesday against Oklahoma City. The three-time All-Star has no plans to rest himself, but the team might use him sparingly over the final few games of the regular season, as Boston has already clinched the best record in the league. Al Horford filled in for Brown in the starting five in the most recent game he missed. The veteran could earn a promotion back to the first unit on Friday if Brown isn't in the lineup.