Celtics' Jaylen Brown Sidelined With Injury, Status Uncertain For Hornets Matchup
The Boston Celtics have been dealt a blow with the news that star forward Jaylen Brown will be sidelined indefinitely with a facial fracture. Brown suffered the injury in the Celtics' 116-110 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night.
Brown was injured with 5:42 remaining in the third quarter when he collided with 76ers center Joel Embiid while contesting a shot. Brown immediately went down in pain and was taken to the locker room for further evaluation.
Brown's Absence a Major Blow to Celtics
Brown's injury is a major blow to the Celtics, who are currently tied for the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. Brown is the team's second-leading scorer (24.2 points per game) and rebounder (6.8 rebounds per game). He is also one of the team's best perimeter defenders.
In Brown's absence, the Celtics will likely turn to Grant Williams or Aaron Nesmith to fill his spot in the starting lineup. Williams is a solid defender, but he is not as good of a scorer as Brown. Nesmith is a promising young player, but he has not yet proven himself to be a consistent contributor.
Celtics Hopeful Brown Can Return Soon
The Celtics are hoping that Brown can return to the lineup soon, but there is no timetable for his recovery. The team will likely take a cautious approach with Brown's injury, as they do not want to risk further damage.
In the meantime, the Celtics will need to find a way to win without Brown. The team has a tough schedule coming up, with games against the Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat, and Brooklyn Nets in the next week.
If the Celtics can weather the storm without Brown, they will be in a good position to make a run at the NBA playoffs. However, if Brown is out for an extended period of time, the team's chances of success will take a significant hit.