If Avery Bradley returns to the Celtics’ lineup as expected on Feb. 24, he will have missed 20 games with a strained right Achilles’ tendon. Yet Boston has soared to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and overtaken Toronto in the process.

The Celtics’ fine play has Bradley even more motivated to return, but he has had to spend the past few weeks listening to his body and being patient after trying to come back too soon a few weeks ago.

“I’m feeling really good,’’ Bradley said before Wednesday night’s 116-108 win over the 76ers. “I wish I could be back now but I just have to do whatever’s smartest, and at the moment the medical staff thinks it’s smartest for me to wait until after the All-Star break.’’

Bradley is the team’s best on-ball defender and is usually assigned to the opposing team’s best backcourt scorer. The Celtics have improved defensively over the past few weeks, which is making Bradley even more eager to return.

Bradley’s injury was initially supposed to keep him out for a few games, but he aggravated his Achilles’ playing 33 minutes on Jan. 16 in a win over the Hornets. He has missed the last 15 games, slowly working to return with two-a-day workouts. Bradley said he has not participated in much basketball activity.

“I’ve been doing more conditioning and strengthening,’’ he said. “Just making sure I’m strong enough for when I do return. Now we’re getting the basketball stuff in, so I’m hoping over the All-Star [break] I can play some basketball and be ready for the first game. It’s been frustrating but I guess it’s part of the game.’’

The fact the Celtics are thriving — 14-5 with Bradley sidelined — hasn’t been lost on him. They have continued to flourish offensively while improving defensively since major struggles during the first two months of the season.

“They’ve been playing well,’’ Bradley said. “I don’t want to mess anything up. But selfishly I do wish I was playing. That’s part of it. I wish I could be around the guys. But they have been playing well. I’m happy with that. Hopefully we can continue to play that same way and when I’m added hopefully I can help us out.’’

Okafor in action

The 76ers are never boring. They informed former No. 3 overall pick Jahlil Okafor he would play Wednesday after shelving him the previous two games because they were trying to facilitate a trade.

Okafor played 17 minutes against the Celtics and finished with 4 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 blocked shots.

The team has not informed Okafor he is off the trade market, but he made the trip to Boston after missing games in Charlotte and at home against Miami.

“It wasn’t a surprise,’’ Okafor said. “They didn’t tell me I was certainly out the door; they told me it was a possibility. I’m just grateful that I have coach [Brett] Brown and this organization, who are upfront with me. I’m good. It’s allowed me to grow up. This is part of professional sports and this is my second year in the NBA and this is what I’m dealing with. I’m sure I’ll be better from it as a person.’’

Said Brown: “It was fantastic having him back. He fits in seamlessly. I thought given his personal circumstance he was really good.’’

Brown better

Like Bradley, Jaylen Brown will miss the final two games before the All-Star break because of a right hip strain. Also like Bradley, Brown expects to return for the Celtics’ Feb. 24 game against the Raptors at Air Canada Centre. Team doctors told Brown to be careful with the injury, sustained in last Saturday night’s win over the Jazz when he tried to make a quick move to get around the screen and felt a slight pain.

“I feel pretty close to 100 percent; I feel really good,’’ he said. “I don’t want to rush it, but I’ll be fine. I wanted to rush back and get back into it and [the doctors] kind of slowed me down [and said], ‘Just take your time and make sure you’re 100 percent.’ That’s what’s important.’’

With increased minutes after being inserted into the starting lineup, Brown has had an impressive February, averaging 8.8 points and 4.2 rebounds.

Green exits

Swingman Gerald Green left the game in the second quarter with a bruised left heel. Green traveled with the team to Chicago and said he will try to play Thursday night. James Young (10 points) was productive in soaking up Green’s second-half minutes . . . The Celtics held a moment of silence before the game for former center Fab Melo, who died Saturday in his native Brazil. Melo was one of the team’s two first-round picks in 2012 — along with Jared Sullinger — and played in six games, spending most of his time in the organization in the NBADL. Melo was 26 . . . With Bradley and Brown out, Jordan Mickey and Demetrius Jackson were active and available to play but neither did. Jackson has played in four games this season . . . Celtics owners Wyc Grousbeck, Steve Pagliuca, and Robert Epstein presented Isaiah Thomas with his All-Star jersey before the game . . . Patriots owner Robert Kraft was seated next to Grousbeck.

Gary Washburn can be reached at gwashburn@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GwashburnGlobe.