Kyrie Irving will miss Wednesday's game against the Washington Wizards with knee soreness, according to ESPN's Chris Forsberg.

Joining him on the bench will be shooting guard Jaylen Brown (concussion), forward Gordon Hayward, hybrid guard Marcus Smart, and forward Daniel Theis — the last three in risk of missing the remainder of the season.

Smart was coming off a self-inflicted laceration injury prior to the All-Star break, and now can have a season-ending thumb tendon injury.

Theis was already ruled out for the season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn left meniscus, while Hayward, who is recovering from ankle and knee injuries has expressed optimism for a return while coach Brad Stevens and president Danny Ainge have played the cautious side, saying he won't return this season.

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To make matters worse, the Celtics have listed Al Horford as questionable for their tilt against the Wizards.

Boston will have to find a way to keep the ship steady and maintain their second spot in the East, considering the see-saw battle taking place in spots 3-to-8.

Irving will likely have to deal with the lingering soreness for the rest of the season, making Smart's absence that much more painful, with the only healthy bodies of Terry Rozier and Shane Larkin available to play the point guard position.

The Celtics are 3.5 games away from the top-seeded Raptors, who have won nine in a row. While the task of catching them seems tougher by the minute, Boston can do its best to remain with the second seed, giving them a much better chance for a long postseason run.