The Boston Celtics remain banged-up ahead of their Tuesday night road clash with the Miami Heat. Head coach Joe Mazzulla provided fans with an update on the status of both Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart, two key cogs of what can very well be a championship machine come June.
Brown, who returned from an abductor injury last week after missing three games, is getting a maintenance day for a recent heavy workload while Smart remains day-to-day with a right ankle sprain, according to Mazzulla via NBC Sports Boston. It is not optimal news, but with a four-game lead over the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference the Celtics can afford to manage the minutes and health of their players. Especially when it concerns a former All Star (possibly this season too) and the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Brown sitting out the second game of a back-to-back is certainly unsurprising since he has logged more than 37 minutes each in the three games he has played since returning from injury. He had 26 points on more than 45 percent shooting from the floor in Monday's loss to the Orlando Magic, a promising sign that he is nearing full strength.
Ankle injuries tend to be trickier to navigate, so Smart's status could remain day-to-day for a bit. This will be the second consecutive game he has missed. Smart is averaging a career-high 7.2 assists per game and is currently matching his highest field goal percentage as well (42.2). His role as the primary defender on opposing stars and emotional leader for the Celtics is always a tough one to replace.
The good news for Celtics fans, though, is that both Brown and Smart should be implemented as regulars in the starting lineup before too long. Mazzulla will likely keep the team's big-picture, NBA title aspirations in mind when assessing their health going forward.
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