Not every member of the Boston Celtics began the post-All-Star break schedule in sunny Phoenix. A couple of unfortunate souls were left back here with the rest of us, bundled up and digging their way out of yet another snowstorm.
Avery Bradley and Vitor Faverani did not join the Celtics for the beginning of their four-game Western Conference road trip, which opened with Tuesday’s practice to prepare for a matchup with the Suns on Wednesday. The Celtics opted to keep the two players home to nurse injuries they suffered before the break.
Bradley has missed eight of the last 11 games with two sprained ankles, while Faverani hasn’t played since Jan. 28. Faverani’s absence is only partly due to a tweaked knee he suffered during a stint with the D-League’s Maine Red Claws on Feb. 5. The rookie center had played sparingly before that, logging 70 minutes over eight games in January.
Bradley is averaging a career-high 14.3 points per game this season as the Celtics’ starting two-guard, when healthy. Faverani, a 25-year-old, 6-foot-11 rookie from Brazil, is averaging 4.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in 37 appearances.
The Celtics play the Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz over a six-day span before returning home to host the Atlanta Hawks on Feb. 26.
