The Celtics on Friday will try to avoid going down 3-0 to the Nets in their first-round NBA playoffs series, and they may need to do it with Kemba Walker not at full strength.
Walker has battled knee issues all season, but a new bone bruise suffered in Boston's Game 2 loss is his latest ailment.
Brad Stevens told reporters that Walker was sore Thursday but felt better Friday during the morning walkthrough. A scan he underwent, though, showed a bone bruise in his left knee.
"He had a little bit of a pain from a specific moment in Game 2, so went and got it scanned," Stevens said over Zoom, via NBC Sports Boston. "He was pretty sore yesterday. Went through stuff this morning, felt a little bit better. I think they've said he's available. He'll still go through his pregame stuff. And I told him to be very up front with me as he goes through it and how he feels, because obviously we don't wanna put him in a bad spot. We want him to play if he feels great, he's healthy. We wouldn't put him out here if there was nay risk beyond. ... The anticipation right now is that he plays."
Losing Walker certainly wouldn't be ideal against a powerhouse team like the Nets.
Tip-off for Game 3 from TD Garden is set for 8:30 p.m. ET.
