Jaylen Brown Doubtful vs. Kings as Celtics Look to Regain Their Rhythm
BOSTON - The Celtics may be without one of their key stars Friday night when they host the Sacramento Kings. Jaylen Brown is listed as doubtful, dealing with a combination of left hamstring tightness and a newly reported right knee contusion.
Brown has been gutting it out through the hamstring issue for over a week now, showing his usual toughness by staying on the floor. But the knee contusion is a fresh concern - and when you’re managing two lower-body injuries at once, rest becomes more than just precautionary. It becomes necessary.
Even in Wednesday’s 117-106 loss to the Hawks - a game where the Celtics never quite found their rhythm - Brown still logged 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. Not his most explosive outing, but still a reminder of how high his floor can be, even when he’s not at full strength.
Frontcourt Depth Tested Again
Boston’s depth has been tested lately, and Neemias Queta’s status is another layer to watch. He’s listed as probable as he continues working through an illness that kept him out against Atlanta. Without Queta, the Celtics leaned on Amari Williams and Luka Garza to hold down the frontcourt - and the results were mixed.
Garza, also recovering from illness but now off the injury report, was one of the few bright spots in Wednesday’s loss. He delivered a well-rounded performance with 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists, showing off the kind of versatility that could earn him more minutes if Queta remains limited.
Celtics Searching for Consistency
The Celtics have hit a rough patch, dropping five of their last ten games. At 29-18, they still sit in a strong position - third in the East - but the recent slide has exposed some cracks in their consistency. Wednesday’s loss marked just the fourth time this season they’ve lost by double digits, but it felt like more than just a bad shooting night.
“We just didn’t have it tonight,” Brown said postgame. “It’s just as simple as that. We came up short, but we didn’t have that spark today.”
That spark - the energy, the urgency - has been missing in spurts lately. Whether it’s fatigue, injuries, or just the grind of a long season, Boston hasn’t looked like the same team that stormed out of the gates earlier this year.
Kings Limp Into Boston
If there’s ever a time to bounce back, it’s against a struggling Kings squad. Sacramento rolls into Boston on the second night of a back-to-back after facing the Sixers on Thursday. They’ve lost six straight and sit at 12-36, second-worst in the Western Conference.
Still, this is the NBA - no game is a gimme, especially when you’re down a star and trying to recalibrate your identity. The Celtics have the talent to weather the storm, but they’ll need more than just talent. They’ll need that spark Brown was talking about - and they’ll need it soon.