Avery Bradley Returns from Achilles Injury for Celtics vs. Hawks

Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley will be back on the court Monday to take on the Atlanta Hawks.

The Celtics announced Bradley will start but will be restricted to 15 to 25 minutes per game for the week as he works his way back from an Achilles injury. He hasn't played since a Jan. 16 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

Bradley is averaging career-highs with 17.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game this season. He is also shooting a personal-best 40.9 percent from three-point range as someone who can stretch the floor and take advantage of open looks when defenders collapse on Al Horford on the blocks or Isaiah Thomas' penetration.

The scoring and rebounding will be a welcome addition for the 38-21 Celtics, who possess the second-best record in the Eastern Conference behind the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Bradley also gives them a stout defensive presence. He was a member of the All-Defensive First Team last season and the All-Defensive Second Team in 2012-13. Boston can use him on the many difficult backcourt matchups in the Eastern Conference, including Kyrie Irving, John Wall, Bradley Beal, Jimmy Butler and DeMar DeRozan.

The Celtics still have plenty of depth in the backcourt and on the wing with Thomas, Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jae Crowder, Gerald Green, Terry Rozier and James Young, so there is not as much pressure on Bradley to immediately round back into form during the minutes restriction.