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Aron Baynes could return to action Sunday

Aron Baynes (left) adds a defensive presence the Celtics can’t easily replicate.File/Matthew J. Lee/Boston Globe/Globe Staff

Celtics center Aron Baynes on Friday missed his 11th consecutive game due to a foot contusion, but he could return as early as Sunday afternoon’s home game against the Rockets.

Coach Brad Stevens said Baynes completed a “good” workout on Friday afternoon, although Baynes was somewhat frustrated the medical staff did not let him do more.

“They gave me a bit of a green light, but they cut it a bit short in my opinion,” Baynes said. “It’s the best thing for me in the long run. But at the time I don’t want to hear that.”

Baynes will be evaluated Saturday and could be cleared then. He said he has been able to maintain his conditioning while he’s been out.

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“There’s nothing like playing up and down [the court], but the thing is I’ve been trying to do a lot of low-impact, pretty much no-impact [exercises],” Baynes said. “So a lot of pool running. That’s what’s good. We’ve got the pool [at the training facility], though that ‘endless jet’ they have is not an endless jet. It’s pretty weak. I’m not a great swimmer but I’m pretty decent and I touched the end after a couple of strokes, so they need to work on that endless jet.”

Baynes missed 13 games earlier this season due to a broken hand. He is one of the team’s most reliable and sturdy defenders. Boston has a 99.6 defensive rating with Baynes on the floor this season, and had a 104.9 mark without him prior to Friday’s 107-96 win against Washington.

“There’s a physical presence there that’s different than anybody else on our team,” Stevens said. “He’s a guy that, obviously, defensively he can anchor a defense and be terrific at it. And then offensively he’s either laying it in, shooting the 3, or getting rid of it. Ultimately that does a lot for us, too. We’re better with Baynes. I don’t think there’s any question about it.

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“But there’s no excuses. We’ve had enough and [Daniel] Theis and [Robert] Williams and those guys are good, solid players, too.”

Marcus Smart (left) takes a charge from Washington’s Bobby Portis during the second half Friday.Nathan Klima for The Globe

Bound for Bucks?

Forward Pau Gasol reached a buyout agreement with the Spurs on Friday and was subsequently waived. The Celtics have an open roster spot, but ESPN reported that Gasol has already agreed to sign with the Bucks, further bolstering the team with the best record in the NBA.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge has said his team is in no rush to fill its opening, particularly since playing time is already scarce on this deep and mostly healthy team.

But Boston’s options will now be limited, because players waived after 11:59 p.m. Friday night will not be eligible to compete in the postseason if they sign with another team.

Boston could still sign a G-League player, a player whose 10-day contract ended with an NBA team, or a player from a short-season league overseas, such as the Chinese Basketball Association. Or, the team could just finish the year with 14 players, which is essentially the number it has been at all year with Jabari Bird facing domestic violence charges.

Bird was traded to the Hawks and then waived Feb. 7 in a cost-cutting move for both teams involved.

Washington’s Tomas Satoransky drives against Kyrie Irving during the second half.Elise Amendola/Associated press/Associated Press

Think positive

The Celtics snapped their four-game losing streak after Stevens said it was clear that the recent struggles have been wearing on his players when they are on the floor.

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“Any time you’re on a losing streak, that certainly can creep into your mind,” he said. “The other night the streak probably hurt us more from the standpoint that I thought we pressed when we shot. I’d like us to play with a free, clear mind.”


Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach @globe.com.