Jaylen Brown suffered a strained right hamstring Tuesday night and will be out of action for at least a week, writes Tom Westerholm of MassLive.
Coach Brad Stevens announced the injury in a session with reporters before tonight’s game. Brown, who has a history of hamstring issues, limped off the court in the fourth quarter last night. His condition will be checked again in a week.
The fourth-year swingman is having his best season, averaging 20.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
Kemba Walker will return to action on Tuesday night for the Celtics as they host the Nets, head coach Brad Stevens confirmed today (Twitter link via Tim Bontemps of ESPN). Walker, who has missed Boston’s five games since the All-Star break due to a nagging knee injury, will play approximately 20-25 minutes, according to Stevens.
Recently-acquired Sixers wing Alec Burks could take on more point guard responsibilities in the wake of Ben Simmons‘ injury. However, the 6’6″ guard is better suited for the shooting guard spot, as Derek Bodner of The Athletic contends.
Burks shoots the ball well of the catch, Bodner adds — the former Warrior made 37.5% of his 96 “no-dribble” attempts while in Golden State.
Here are more notes from the Atlantic Division:
Celtics point guard Kemba Walker, who worked out today, will play a three-on-three on Sunday and if all goes well, he could return to the starting lineup for Tuesday’s tilt against the Nets, head coach Brad Stevens said Saturday (Twitter link).
Walker has missed Boston’s last four games and seven of the last 11 navigating a lingering knee injury. The team has been cautious with Walker’s recovery even though he suited up for Team Giannis during the 2020 All-Star game.
In his first season with the Celtics, Walker has been his usual productive self when healthy. In 46 contests, the 29-year-old is averaging 21.8 PPG, 5.0 APG and 4.1 RPG
Celtics center Robert Williams, who has been sidelined since December 6 due to a hip injury, has been cleared to return to action, head coach Brad Stevens confirmed today (Twitter link via Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe).
Williams, a first-round pick in 2018, was playing a part-time role for Boston earlier in the season before he went down with the hip ailment, averaging 3.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 1.1 BPG in 19 games (14.2 MPG).
The 22-year-old will play limited minutes for now, as Washburn notes, but he’ll give the C’s another option up front to go along with centers Daniel Theis and Enes Kanter. Boston’s next game is on Saturday night vs. Houston, which may not be an ideal spot for a big man like Williams to see much playing time, but it sounds like he should be active for that contest.
Meanwhile, point guard Kemba Walker is expected to miss Saturday’s game against the Rockets as he continues to deal with a knee injury, Stevens said today (Twitter link via Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston). It will be the fifth straight game Walker has missed since the All-Star break.
However, the All-Star guard will likely ramp up his work over the weekend with an eye toward returning next week, Stevens added. It sounds as if a return on Tuesday vs. Brooklyn or on Wednesday in Cleveland remains in play for Walker.
Evan Turner is still weighing the idea of a buyout, according to Sean Deveney of Heavy.com. The wing was reportedly in buyout talks with the Timberwolves earlier this month but it has been quiet on that front until now.
Turner, who was scheduled to work out for the Clippers earlier this month, would be open to a reunion with the Celtics, Deveney hears. The former No. 2 overall pick spent two seasons in Boston, starting in 163 games for the club.
The Hawks traded for Turner during the offseason, hoping to use him as a backup point guard to starter Trae Young. That didn’t exactly work out and the team shipped him to Minnesota in its deal for Clint Capela.
The 31-year-old Chicago native has played for five teams in his career, as he has suited up for the Sixers, Pacers, and Blazers in addition to the Celtics and Hawks.