Boston Celtics’ forward Jaylen Brown is considered “day-to-day” after suffering an ankle sprain during the 107-98 comeback win over the Atlanta Hawks Tuesday.
Brown went down in a heap on a drive early in the first quarter, when it appeared he either slipped or landed on someone’s foot. He did not participate in Wednesday’s practice, and he’s unlikely to be available for Thursday’s contest against Memphis.
The Celtics’ swingman has dodged a severe injury, according to Boston Celtics’ head coach Ime Udoka. Despite Brown not participating in practice on Wednesday, Udoka told reporters today that ”it didn’t look like anything major”.
“[He] rolled it,” Udoka said on Brown’s injury after the 107-98 win over the Hawks. “Got some swelling and soreness, obviously. He tried to give it a go in the back and wanted to come back out and play, [but] just decided big picture, where we’re at in the season and be smart. So we’ll know more over the next few days.”
The Celtics are on a roll lately, having a 15-6 record since Jan. 16. The California product is averaging 23.7 points and 6.3 rebounds for the season, with the Celtics holding a record of 37-27. They are five games away from the top-seeded Miami Heat.
While it is unclear how much time Brown will miss at present, the Celtics should provide an update on his status soon.
With him out, expect Derrick White and Aaron Nesmith to see an increase in their minutes. Smart could also provide cover in certain circumstances.
Losing the All-Star forward is a huge blow for Boston, who are not in a great place regarding their bench depth. The starting lineup of Smart, Brown, Tatum, Horford and Williams III is outscoring opponents by 27.0 points per 100 possessions.
The Celtics will hope to continue on their winning path without their starting forward, facing the red-hot Memphis Grizzlies Thursday night.
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