TORONTO — Now that the quest for No. 1 is essentially over and the Celtics have fallen, although valiantly, it’s time for some rest and rebooting.

With four games left in the regular season, three against non-playoff teams, the lineups should be as close to G-League Maine as Celtics coach Brad Stevens can get.

He tried a patchwork lineup Wednesday night against the Toronto Raptors, who were angry after another loss at Cleveland, and the Raptors pulled away for a 96-78 win.

The Celtics looked fried. Terry Rozier scored 2 points. Kadeem Allen, last year the fourth option at the University of Arizona, was launching threes in pivotal first-half stretches. The Celtics made 25 shots and committed 16 turnovers.

Their momentum was dashed after Tuesday’s 106-102 loss to the Bucks, a game they lost because of a plethora of mistakes. They tried to regain that swagger against the Raptors, but melted after playing a decent first quarter.

Crippled by injuries since five minutes into the season opener, the Celtics haven’t rested for 78 games. They have been grinding, with Stevens using every available player to compete. It has worked. Although the Celtics have seemingly lost out on the No. 1 seed to the Raptors, they have had a stellar regular season, considering the circumstances.

The Raptors, meanwhile, have been mostly healthy this season, with their top four starters all playing at least 72 games. They were handed the No. 1 seed just as much by circumstance as talent, and a healthier Celtics team could see them in the Eastern Conference finals.

But for now, it’s time to chill. The Celtics face the tanking Bulls on Friday, and then the equally tanking Hawks on Sunday. The Celtics’ frontline players — including Al Horford, Rozier, Jaylen Brown, and Aron Baynes — need some time to watch from the bench.

The Celtics have accomplished all they can this regular season. They have put themselves in strong position to reach the East finals if they get Kyrie Irving and Marcus Smart back. The only meaningful game remaining is next Tuesday against Washington, a game that could determine whether they face the Wizards in the first round of the playoffs.

Depending on whether the Celtics want to face the Wizards or not — the assumption is not — Stevens could put out his frontline lineup and have one playoff-caliber game before the playoffs actually begin.

There are two items of good news in terms of rest and health. Rookie Jayson Tatum, who has played all 78 games, said he is not fatigued or seeking rest.

“I’m doing all right. I mean, I played every game and I’m more tired than other days,’’ he said. “Sometimes my body aches, but I’m all right. If I’m healthy, [I’d like to play all 82]. I’m just trying to sleep as much as possible, get in the cold tub, get massaged as much as possible.’’

Marcus Morris, who has become a primary offensive option, has only played 52 games because of an early-season knee injury and back bruise, and he said he is physically fresh.

Losing Morris early has turned into a positive in the long term because he isn’t worn down.

“I feel great,’’ he said. “I feel excited to be going to the playoffs, for sure. It’s only my second time. I feel great. At the end of the day it’s mind over matter, and I sat out 30 games, damn near, so I’m still fresh.’’

The quandary for Stevens is keeping the team’s rhythm or trying to increase that rhythm because of inconsistent lineups. Stevens said after Wednesday night’s game that he would like to play some of his regular rotations and create some type of normalcy heading into the postseason, which begins April 14.

So the plan could be reduced playing time for his starters but playing them in at least three of the final four games. Rest and health are the two most important factors with less than a week left in the regular season.

The Celtics made an inspiring effort toward the No. 1 seed, winning six consecutive games without Irving, including last Saturday’s win over Toronto.

But the past two games have proven that the Celtics need to get their regulars back. They now need to focus toward the playoffs. The Raptors were better, partly because they were healthier and more cohesive.

Stevens was reaching for solutions Wednesday when his team couldn’t score, and he found none.

“We could have played better,’’ he said. “[The Raptors] are well into the driver’s seat at No. 1.’’

The Celtics now have to cross their fingers that Irving is making progress after knee surgery and Smart’s right thumb is healing. This team has shown the ability to flourish regardless of lineups, but the main priority over the next four games should be rest.

Stevens has to trust that his players will gain the necessary cohesion for the postseason because they did it so often during a successful regular season.

Gary Washburn can be reached at gwashburn@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GwashburnGlobe.