TORONTO — The Celtics trail the Raptors by three games after Wednesday’s 96-78 loss to Toronto with four games remaining. Although the Celtics’ fate is likely solidified as the No. 2 seed in the East, it could be awhile before they know their first-round opponent.
The Wizards and Bucks entered Wednesday night with 42-36 records. The Heat defeated Atlanta Wednesday to move to 43-36. It is possible that Boston’s first-round opponent will not be known until the end of the regular season. But coach Brad Stevens said that does not complicate preparations.
“It’s obviously going to be one of those three,’’ he said. “We played Milwaukee [Tuesday] night. We play Washington next week. I think we all have watched Miami play a lot, and enjoy watching the way Miami plays. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there against anybody we’re supposed to play. Right now we’re just focused on trying to play well tonight with who’s available.’’
Rozier returns
Point guard Terry Rozier returned to the starting lineup against the Raptors after missing Tuesday’s loss to the Bucks with a sprained left ankle. He scored 2 points in 28 minutes. The Celtics were unsure of Rozier’s status until less than an hour before tipoff, but then a team official informed Rozier in the locker room that he would start.
Rozier said that prior to Tuesday, he had never missed a game because of an injury in his life, dating back to youth leagues.
“Usually if I missed a game it was because I did something in school or something like that,’’ he said.
Backup point guard Shane Larkin, meanwhile, remained in Boston as he recovers from the illness that hospitalized him last weekend. The Celtics are still missing point guards Marcus Smart (thumb) and Kyrie Irving (knee).
Irving is recovering from March 24 surgery to remove a tension wire that had been inserted as part of his 2015 procedure to repair a broken left kneecap. The All-Star’s return date remains unclear, but Rozier said Irving’s spirits remain high.
“We joke and talk,’’ Rozier said. “He’s doing pretty good. He’s [at the practice facility] every day getting treatment and things like that, trying to stay level-headed. But he’s fine. You can never tell that he’s hurt. He still interacts with everybody, jokes with everybody, stuff like that.’’
All hands
The Celtics have been so thin because of injuries this season that they’ve used their two-way contract players in key roles. Kadeem Allen, for example, started Tuesday’s game. Because of two-way contract rules, however, neither Allen nor Jabari Bird will be eligible to play in the postseason unless their contracts are transferred to full-time NBA deals.
For example, the Golden State Warriors called up two-way player Quinn Cook because of an injury to Stephen Curry, and Cook thrived in recent weeks, and on Wednesday he was rewarded with a full contract.
Stevens said he has not discussed the playoff roster with president of basketball operations Danny Ainge, but signing Allen or another player would require another roster move. The Celtics are uncertain about the status of Irving for the first round, while Smart is not expected to be available until a potential second-round series.
“One of the things that Kadeem showed [Tuesday] is that he can be effective,’’ Stevens said. “[Wednesday night] will be another great test for him. But all those guys have shown that, so it’s just a matter of again, how your roster looks heading into the playoffs. What do you think you need? But ultimately, I don’t anticipate any change.’’
Gary Washburn of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @adamhimmelsbach.
