Avery Bradley Out For Celtics-Lakers, Reportedly Welcoming A New Child

It takes a lot to keep Avery Bradley out of a basketball game, especially Kobe Bryant’s final contest against his archrival. But it appears Bradley has a pretty good reason.

The Boston Celtics guard did not join the team for Sunday night’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center because of personal reasons, the team announced Sunday. The Boston Herald’s Steve Bulpett shed more light on those personal reasons.

If Bradley really is welcoming a new child, we’d say that’s a decent excuse.

The Celtics will miss Bradley’s presence on both ends Sunday. The 25-year-old is averaging 17.7 points over his last six games and has drawn headlines with his suffocating defense on the likes of Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum and Stephen Curry.

Yet Boston will benefit from the return of Jae Crowder, who sat out Friday’s epic win over the Golden State Warriors but will start Sunday in his second game back from a high ankle sprain.

Thumbnail photo via Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports Images