Simply put, the Boston Celtics are a better team when Jae Crowder is on the floor. And it appears Crowder is close to returning to it.
The Celtics swingman, who hasn’t played since he suffered a high ankle sprain May 11, is scheduled to return to practice Wednesday and could return to game action later this week.
Crowder is traveling with the team on its current five-game road trip but didn’t play in Saturday night’s win over the Phoenix Suns. He’ll also sit out Monday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers, but after an off-day Tuesday, the 25-year-old will give his ankle a test Wednesday.
“He’ll go through more of practice (Wednesday) than he’s gone through since his injury,” head coach Brad Stevens said Monday at the team’s shootaround, via MassLive.com’s Jay King. “So, we’ll see how he reacts to practice Wednesday and we’ll see how much he can do after two more days of treatment. But the plan of attack is that he will be pretty available for practice, for most of what we will do in Wednesday’s practice.”
Stevens added the team will re-evaluate Crowder’s availability after that practice and determine whether he can play in Thursday’s matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers or Friday’s showdown with the Golden State Warriors.
After losing their first three games in Crowder’s absence, the C’s have managed to stay afloat since, winning their last four contests. But Crowder’s 14.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game — not to mention his key contributions on the defensive end — will be more than a welcome sight for Boston as it gears up for a crucial stretch run.
Thumbnail photo via David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports Images
