The Celtics will lose a total of three players when they face the Pistons at TD Garden on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Notably, Jayson Tatum will be one of those missing the game, as he will sit out only his second game of the season. A total of four players were originally listed on the C’s injury report prior to Thursday’s game.

Tatum (right patellar tendinopathy), Sam Hauser (right adductor strain) and Jaden Springer (illness) are all listed as out on the injury report. Hauser was originally questionable for the game, while Springer and Tatum were questionable. Jordan Walsh was upgraded from questionable to available due to being listed with a left rib contusion.

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Tatum also missed the Pistons’ game last week, the first time he sat out a game this season. After that, he was successful in both consecutive games against the Bucks and the Grizzlies. Considering the C’s are in a weak part of their NBA Cup schedule, sitting Tatum allows him to have a full week of rest. The Celtics don’t play against the Wizards again until Sunday in Washington DC.

The Celtics will play just two games in 11 days because they missed the knockout round of the regular-season tournament. The league intentionally kept the entire week open to every team in order to showcase the teams in the NBA Cup. Considering the C’s have played five games in seven days, they’re happy to take the rest.

The Celtics and Pistons met at the Garden just eight days ago, which ended in a 130-120 win for Boston. The Pistons gave the C’s an unexpected fight, forcing a close game after three points rained down in the fourth quarter. Detroit has a 10-15 record as it has at least climbed out of the East’s basement, but it wants to take further steps toward becoming a play-in team.