The Boston Celtics’ current road trip appears to be taking its toll.
The Celtics will be a bit undermanned Monday night when they conclude their five-game trip against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center. Forward David Lee will miss his second consecutive game because of a right heel contusion, while rookie guard R.J. Hunter will sit out with a left hip flexor strain, the team announced Monday.
The good news for the C’s: Guard Avery Bradley was questionable for Monday’s contest with an illness but will play, according to The Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn.
Lee said he suffered the injury during the third quarter of Thursday’s win over the Sacramento Kings in Mexico City when he fell down after snagging a rebound. The 32-year-old hopes he won’t miss any extended time.
“I went to go through warmups (Sunday) and it just didn’t feel any better than (Saturday night),” Lee said Sunday, via the Boston Herald. “Obviously they’re just diagnosing it as a bone bruise in my heel, so those things can take two days or two weeks, depending on how severe. I’m hoping, because it doesn’t hurt a whole lot when I walk around, that it’s just going to be a couple of days.”
Hunter hurt his hip during a 3-on-3 game at practice Sunday, according to Mass Live’s Jay King. Like Lee, Hunter doesn’t plan on staying sidelined too long.
“I’m not totally hurt,” Hunter said Monday, via King. “But if I’m not 100 percent, then I don’t want to give it a go.”
Hunter’s absence Monday could open the door for James Young, who has bounced back and forth between Boston and the Maine Red Claws but is with the team in New Orleans.
Thumbnail photo via Mark L. Baer/USA TODAY Sports Images
