Celtics Guard Expected to Return in Eastern Conference Finals

BOSTON — Celtics guard Jrue Holiday is expected to return from a strained right hamstring when Boston opens its Eastern Conference finals series against the New York Knicks on Monday night.

No Celtics players were listed on the injury report Sunday, meaning they could be at full strength when Game 1 tips off. This marks the first time Holiday has not been on the injury report since missing the final three games of Boston’s first-round series against the Orlando Magic, which the Celtics won in five games.

Head coach Joe Mazzulla reported that Holiday was able to “work on everything he wanted to work on” during Boston’s practice session Saturday. Holiday, who averaged 10 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.5 rebounds in the opening two games of the Magic series, is considered one of the Celtics’ top defenders and facilitators on offense.

Also absent from the injury report is star forward Jaylen Brown, who has been dealing with a right knee issue that sidelined him for the Celtics’ final three regular-season games. With both key players expected to be on the floor, the Celtics will look to gain an advantage against their division rival.

The Celtics will face off against the Knicks for the first time this postseason, hoping to leverage their full roster to advance further in the playoffs.