Update: Jaylen Brown has been ruled out for tonight’s series opener with the Sixers.
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Jaylen Brown’s breakout performance for the Boston Celtics was one of the feel-good stories for the fans in Boston to celebrate during a season where injuries to key players overshadowed almost everything. That the Celtics have made it to the Eastern Conference semifinals without both Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, their two biggest stars, is a testament to the development to the growth and development of youngsters like Brown and Jayson Tatum.
Brown’s feel-good story has hit a snag, though, courtesy of the injury bug that has defined this season in Boston. The right hamstring he strained in the second quarter of the Celtics’ Game 7 win over Milwaukee Saturday could keep Brown from suiting up tonight. He’s currently listed by the team as doubtful for Game 1.
Celtics coach Brad Stevens said Brown told him he is “feeling better” today, but Stevens is unsure if Brown will play tonight.
“He’ll go through whatever he can in shootaround and we’ll see how it goes,” Stevens said at Monday’s practice.
#NEBHInjuryReport: Brad Stevens says Jaylen Brown (hamstring) told him he’s “feeling better” today, but Coach is not sure if he’ll be able to play tonight. “He’ll go through whatever he can in shootaround and we’ll see how it goes.”
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 30, 2018
Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald has more on Brown and the chances of him suiting up tonight:
“I thought the last email I saw that he still has some soreness,” said Stevens. “(He) didn’t try to do anything, that I know of, running-wise (yesterday). Did have some testing, and that looked good, thankfully.
“Doubtful for (tonight). But I guess he could play and then it doesn’t look like it would be something — or it looks like it could be something that allows him to play as the series goes on.”
In other words, there is a realistic chance of Brown returning during this series.
“I’ve seen Jaylen. I talked to him a little bit. I honestly don’t know how he’s doing,” said Al Horford. “Obviously he’s a big part of what we do, but I really don’t know what his status is.
“So, again, we’ve been through it all year. Some of our guys need to get ready and rise up for the occasion. And I expect some of those guys off the bench to come in and provide us that spark.”
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