The Celtics will be without their starting center and his top backup Friday night in Charlotte.

Al Horford will not play against the Hornets for load management purposes, the team announced Friday. Boston and Charlotte also play Saturday night, and the Celtics typically rest the 38-year-old Horford on either the first or second game of back-to-backs.

Horford started the first five games of the season in place of the rehabbing Kristaps Porzingis, who is targeting a December return from offseason leg surgery.

Luke Kornet is the most likely candidate to replace Horford in the starting lineup, as he did while Boston rested Horford during the preseason. The latter’s absence also should lead to increased playing time for backup bigs Xavier Tillman and Neemias Queta.

Queta was superb off the bench in Wednesday’s loss at Indiana, playing 14 straight minutes in the fourth quarter and overtime as Boston erased a 24-point deficit before losing in OT. The 7-footer grabbed nine rebounds (four offensive) and blocked one shot, and the Celtics outscored the Pacers by 18 points with him on the court.

“That’s a credit to him,” head coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters after the loss. “A credit to the guys that just always stay ready. We just went with different lineups to try to chip away at it. Everybody played a role in that. I thought Neemie did a great job on both ends of the floor. His activity, his physicality, gave us a spark.”

Horford did not play in the fourth quarter or overtime Wednesday night, nor did 34-year-old starting guard Jrue Holiday. Mazzulla opted to stick with Queta and Payton Pritchard as the Celtics staged their ill-fated comeback.

Reserve wing Sam Hauser will be available Friday night, per the Celtics. Hauser scored five points in 14 minutes against the Pacers after missing three games with lower back pain.