BOSTON — Jaylen Brown is doubtful to play in Friday’s game between the Celtics and the Sacramento Kings, per the Celtics. Brown, who has only missed 3 games this season, is dealing with both left hamstring tightness and a right knee contusion.
Brown has been listed as dealing with hamstring tightness several times in the past week, and it’s something that he’s been playing through. The right knee contusion has not been previously listed on the injury report this season and thus appears to be a new injury.
Brown had one of his less productive games of the season in a 117-106 loss to the Hawks on Wednesday, but he still finished with 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists.
In addition to Brown, Neemias Queta is listed as probable to play as he continues to recover from illness. Queta missed Wednesday’s loss to the Atlanta Hawks as he deals with an illness he’s been playing through since Friday. The Celtics struggled in Queta’s absence and mostly relied on Amari Williams and Luka Garza in the frontcourt.
Garza, who has also been dealing with illness, is not on the injury report. Garza was one of Boston’s steadiest players on Wednesday, tallying 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Celtics look to get back on track against the Sacramento Kings
The Celtics have been on a bit of a slump lately, having dropped 5 of their last 10 games. For the season, they currently hold a 29-18 record, good for the East’s third-best record. On Wednesday night, they dropped just their fourth game of the season by double-digits.
“We just didn’t have it tonight,” Jaylen Brown said. “It’s just as simple as that. We came up short, but we didn’t have that spark today.”
The Kings, meanwhile, have lost 6 straight games and have the second-worst record (12-36) in the West. They’ll be on the second night of a back-to-back when they face the Celtics, as they face the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night.
