Brad Stevens broke out the Bubble Wrap last night.
Al Horford and Jayson Tatum officially were rested, and when the Celtics play the bottom-feeding Hawks tomorrow, there will be even more of that rustling plastic sound.
Preservation is now the key with NBA All-Star guard Kyrie Irving today having a second knee surgery within the last month and Marcus Smart, in the words of the Celtics coach, not expected “back for the foreseeable near future.”
Enter Jabari Bird, who became the first Celtic with that surname since 1992 to hit a 3-pointer, and point center Greg Monroe with his second career triple-double on 19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.