Holiday’s feeling better

No certainty on return to lineup

AtLANtA — perhaps took a page from the book of Jaylen brown monday morning and worked out strictly using his right hand during shootaround.

Holiday missed his fifth consecutive game when the celtics lost to the Hawks, 120118, monday night with what he told the globe’s Adam Himmelsbach was a “dead arm” after a collision with Washington’s Richaun Holmes during the celtics’ march 17 win. His right shoulder bore the brunt of a hard screen, Holiday said, causing discomfort. He took a step toward returning with the morning workout but is uncertain of his return.

“I feel pretty good, it feels better, still bugs me a little bit but I’m sure that’s going to happen,” Holiday said. “It’s not a dead arm, I hit my shoulder and it felt like my arm went dead. It’s not a nerve thing, just a part of the shoulder that I got hit on. but my shoulder’s fine. I can move and do everything.”

Holiday explained that the Ac joint has been causing the discomfort and the pain could linger despite the improvement. He shot baskets and made some basketball moves with the celtics support staff. the celtics have been cautious with injuries over the past several weeks.

According to NbA.com, the celtics have clinched the No. 1 seed in the Eastern conference by virtue of several potential tiebreakers with the bucks. the celtics lead the bucks by 10½ games with 10 to play.

“Yeah I’m going to feel [the pain],” Holiday said. “At this point, it’s about minimizing the pain. When I get to contact, not aggravating it to where it gets back to where it was.”

the celtics are in a position to rest players and explore rotations with no consequence beference cause the conference has been clinched. Holiday said he’s not concerned about resting.

“for me, I’m trying to get back on the court,” he said. “If I’m going to be here, I want to play. for me, it’s not really about any of that. It’s about getting back on the court and being healthy.”

this is the third time this century the celtics have clinched the No. 1 seed (2008, ’17) and the earliest in decades.

“It’s a first for me,” Holiday said. “It’s a good feeling but at the same time we’ve got to stay sharp. We [have to] stay on it, no matter who the competition is. If it’s the 15th seed or the No. 2 seed. We’ve got to stay on the ship.

“We’re really good and I think people know that. I think everybody knows we have talent. Honestly, I think everybody here is locked in and we want to do something special.”

Honor for White

for the second time in his ascending career, Derrick White was named Eastern conPlayer of the Week. the celtics went 4-0 last week with White averaging 20.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 8.8 assists, and 1 block. He has enjoyed a career season, being on the cusp of an All-Star nod.

White, scratched against the Hawks with a sprained right hand, was acquired from the Spurs in february 2022 and has become an essential part of the celtics’ arsenal.

“I think I’m playing my best basketball of my career,” he said. “Each year I’ve gotten better and better. Just going into the year, I just wanted to help us win and that really was my main focus. Just getting acquainted with Jrue and [kristaps Porzingis] and everybody we’ve had, and I like where I’m at.”

One of the more durable celtics, White said he initially injured the hand during the march 9 win at Phoenix. He sat out a win over the Wizards eight days later and said he is continually getting hit in the injured area.

“that’s really when I feel it, other than that, I feel good,” he said.

White joked that he plans to collect on his a wager with teammate Al Horford. White’s University of colorado team beat Horford’s University of florida entry in the first round of the NcAA tournament.

“We got something in line,” White said. “I finally won one.

“I’ve taken a lot of L’s around here. So that was a big one for me.”

stoudamire stops by

former celtics assistant and current georgia tech coach Damon stoudamire was in attendance . . . Xavier tillman joined Holiday and White on the scratched list with left knee swelling. tillman was dealing with knee issues when he was acquired from the grizzlies last month . . . the Hawks are decimated with injuries, with trae Young (finger), Jalen Johnson (ankle) saddiq bey (knee), and onyeka okongwu (toe) all out.