The Celtics will play their eighth straight game without Kristaps Porzingis on Friday night in Miami.

Boston ruled out Porzingis for the matchup with the Heat as he continues to recover from what he called a “viral illness.” The big man traveled with the team to South Florida and was on the court during morning shootaround, signaling he could be close to returning.

“He’s still able to come in and be around the guys as best he can,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said earlier in the week. “Trying to stay in the best shape possible. He’s been on the court. He’s doing what he can to get back. But he kind of said it best. At the same time, we’ve just got to kind of make sure he’s good, and we do what’s best for him.”

Jaylen Brown also was ruled out for the game with a nagging knee injury. Brown, who struggled in Wednesday’s home loss to Oklahoma City, has mentioned multiple times in recent weeks that he’s been playing through pain. After Monday’s victory over Utah, he admitted he “didn’t feel (his) best physically.”

Friday’s DNP was the 12th of the season for Brown, who’s also dealt with hip, shoulder and ankle ailments.

The Celtics upgraded Jayson Tatum (questionable, knee), Derrick White (questionable, knee) and Al Horford (probable, toe) to available before tipoff in Miami. The 38-year-old Horford does not play back-to-back nights at this point in his career, so expect him to sit Saturday night when the Celtics visit the Brooklyn Nets.

It’s unclear whether Boston expects to have Porzingis back for that game, but the fact that he made the trip was a positive sign.

The Celtics can clinch a playoff spot Friday night with a win over the Heat and an Atlanta Hawks loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.