The Boston Celtics are limping toward the NBA playoffs.
The C’s have suffered numerous injuries over the past 10 days, most notably losing Daniel Theis for the season and Marcus Smart indefinitely. Boston also has been without Kyrie Irving (knee soreness) and Jaylen Brown (concussion) for the last few games, but it sounds like the C’s could be getting their starting backcourt back soon.
Head coach Brad Stevens gave updates on both Irving and Brown before the Celtics’ 108-89 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night.
“I think he feels better and better,” Stevens said about Irving, per Jay King of MassLive. “He just doesn’t quite feel 100 percent. So, until that point then he’ll be out. There was a chance that he would play (Sunday), (Friday against Orlando). He just didn’t quite feel that. And, again, we’re going to make sure that he feels that way.”
As for Brown, it doesn’t sound like he’ll be able to play Tuesday when the C’s host the Oklahoma City Thunder, but the second-year man could return shortly thereafter.
“He’s doing good through his progressions (in the NBA’s concussion protocol) so far,” Stevens said of Brown, via MassLive. “Still has a few days left. Don’t see how he’ll play Tuesday, either. But from everything I’ve heard we’re getting closer, but that’s all pending no setback.”
Boston has a firm grip on the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. But with 12 games left in the regular season, the Celtics would like their crunch time lineup (Irving, Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Marcus Morris) to have some continuity and rhythm heading into the first round of the playoffs.
Here are more notes from Celtics-Pelicans:Â
— Stevens also gave an update on the setback Gordon Hayward suffered while rehabbing, noting it isn’t anything to worry about.
— Tatum scored 23 points Sunday. The Duke product’s 32 games of 15 or more points are the most by a C’s rookie since Ron Mercer during the 1997-98 season.
— Anthony Davis continues to crush the Celtics. After scoring 34 points in the Pelicans’ win Sunday, the All-Star forward now has scored 79 points in two games against Boston this season.
