Al Horford, Marcus Morris return to Boston Celtics’ starting lineup vs. Charlotte Hornets

BOSTON — The Boston Celtics saw both center Al Horford and forward Marcus Morris return to the starting lineup Sunday night against the Charlotte Hornets after missing time with knee issues.

Horford has missed the past seven games with patellofemoral pain syndrome in his left knee, while Morris has missed the past two with right knee soreness. Before Sunday’s game, however, Celtics coach Brad Stevens confirmed both would be back — and starting — against Charlotte, as the Celtics try to end a three-game losing streak.

Horford would be on a minutes limit, though Stevens said he wasn’t sure what that limit would be, and wouldn’t know until game time. Morris, however, would have no restrictions.

The Celtics have struggled of late without their starting frontcourt tandem, losing their past three games in a row — including a 120-107 defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks at home Friday night that prompted a postgame team meeting that kept the locker room closed for more than a half-hour after the game had ended.

But while Morris has been one of Boston’s best players this season, getting Horford back is critical for the Celtics as they enter a stretch that will see them face a string of strong post players in the coming games — including Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, Houston Rockets center Clint Capela, Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol, San Antonio Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge and Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns — and already have backup center Aron Baynes sidelined for several weeks with a fractured bone in his left hand.

“[Horford’s] been a winner his whole career, and there’s a reason that he wins,” Stevens said. “He makes huge, impactful plays on the court. More than that, he’s a steadying presence on the team and can direct us at both ends of the court.

“Some of that is manageable when Baynes is available, but it’s harder when they’re both out. But there are games where different guys have to step up and play. I thought [Daniel] Theis and Robert [Williams] gave us good minutes in this stretch, and they have to be ready again. Theis certainly gave us good minutes in this stretch, and will play quite a bit as Al is on his minutes restriction at the least.