The Celtics have found games to give Brown a rest. Friday’s win over Atlanta was considered a break for the stretch run, but missing another game adds credence to the injury.

“He got a little bit better [Saturday] and he got a little bit better today,” Mazzulla said. “We’ll see how he feels [Monday], but we’re still operating on seeing he gets better every day.”

Beginning Monday in Atlanta, the Celtics end the regular season with eight games in 13 days, including a home-road back to-back April 9-10. Chasing the second seed is a priority, but so is rest for the veterans, who have played 65-plus games in preparation for the postseason.

“That’s where the conversations with the front office or the sports science team, what’s best for the player, what’s best for our team,“ Mazzulla said. ”That’s where you come together and trust [those groups].”

White missed just his fourth game this season. It’s uncertain when he sustained his knee injury.

With Brown and White out, Jordan Walsh got his first start since Jan. 1; he hit just one of seven shots in 34 minutes. Payton Pritchard scored 28 points, on 10-for-18 shooting, in his second start since Feb. 2, and Queta scored 17.

The Celtics got better news on center Nikola Vucevic, who fractured his right ring finger on March 6 against the Mavericks. Vucevic was walking around shootaround and in pregame without a brace that had been there to protect the injury. He said on March 20 that he would be examined Saturday to determine the next course of action, and hoped to return before the regular season.

Charlotte, coming off a difficult last-minute loss to the 76ers on Saturday, was missing former Celtic Grant Williams. He does not play in back-to-backs after he missed most of last season with a torn ACL.

The Hornets have been one of the more pleasant surprises in the NBA, with 23 wins in their past 31 games and assured at least a play-in spot. They are three games behind Atlanta for the sixth seed and avoiding the play-in tournament.

Brandon Miller, LaMelo Ball, and rookie Kon Knueppel are among those who have delivered big seasons, while center Moussa Diabaté has been a staunch defender and rebounder.

“Just the continued consistency with our process and with our habits,” Charlotte coach Charles Lee said. “I thought it started in the offseason with this team. I saw an elevated commitment to just every day, not just showing up on game days, but the importance of the preparation and falling in love with the preparation and falling in love with the journey and embracing everything that comes with it.

“And I think that our guys have done that even in the face of adversity, instead of sulking or ‘woe is me’, or ‘oh, here we go again.’ I think that our guys have kind of hunkered down even more individually, but then also together. They’ve kind of rallied each other and elevated one another to help them get through adverse moments. So it’s been really cool to see now all the fruits of the labor.”

G-League Maine reached the playoffs as the No. 7 seed and will face Greensboro in the single-elimination first round on Tuesday.

Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.