Jaylen Brown is doubtful to play in Thursday’s game against the Washington Wizards, the Celtics announced on Wednesday afternoon. The Celtics star is dealing with a non-COVID illness. Outside of Brown, the team’s injury report is clear, with both Derrick White (right calf contusion) and Neemias Queta (left ankle sprain) both off the injury report after missing Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. (Jayson Tatum, of course, remains out as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles).
Brown has yet to miss a game this season and is averaging 29 points, 6 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.1 steals across 21 games so far this season. He is fresh off a season-high 42-point outing against the Knicks, in which he exploded for 33 points in the second and third quarters. Over his past five games, Brown is averaging 34 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Brown has dealt with a myriad of injuries this season, suffering a hamstring strain in preseason and dealing with low back spasms last week. But, so far, he’s suited every night and has made clear he’s eager to play as much as he possibly can.
“You see a lot of guys getting injured around the league,” Brown said last month. “I want to play as many games as I possibly can.”
The Celtics could choose to give Brown the night off, in part given that the Wizards game is on the first night of a back-to-back. After playing in Washington DC on Thursday, the Celtics will host the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night at TD Garden.
At 15-5, the Lakers have the league’s third-best record, anchored by elite play from Luka Doncic (35.3 points, 8.9 assists, 8.9 rebounds per game) and Austin Reaves (28.1 points, 6.6 assists per game).
The Wizards, meanwhile, have the Eastern Conference’s worst record at 3-17. They’ve been led by Alex Sarr (19.1 points, 8.6 rebounds), CJ McCollum (18 points), and Kyshawn George (15.2 points).
If Brown is to miss Thursday’s game, the Celtics could choose from a slew of players to insert into the starting lineup: Sam Hauser, Josh Minott, and Hugo Gonzalez all seem like possible candidates.
