The Boston Celtics are rolling. Eight wins from their last nine games, 37-19 on the season, second in the Eastern Conference. Sunday’s 111-89 blowout of the Lakers in Los Angeles was the latest statement on a road trip that has underlined everything this team is capable of without Jayson Tatum.
Tuesday night brings a different challenge. Boston heads to Phoenix for the first game of a back-to-back, facing a Suns team that has dropped six of its last ten but remains seventh in the Western Conference at 33-25.
The injury report ahead of the matchup has added a layer of uncertainty for the Celtics.
Key Celtic Listed as Questionable
Jaylen Brown is questionable for Tuesday’s game with a right knee contusion. He was seen icing the knee after Sunday’s win over the Lakers, a performance in which he delivered 32 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists.
Brown is the engine of this Celtics team, averaging 29.2 points, 7 rebounds and 4.9 assists this season, all career highs. He has only missed five games this year. If he is unable to suit up for against the Suns, Boston will turn to Derrick White and Payton Pritchard to run the show.
Tatum remains out as he continues to ramp up for his return. Joe Mazzulla has been measured in his public comments about Tatum’s timeline, but the progression has been encouraging. For now, Brown’s availability is the more pressing question.
What Phoenix Brings to the Table
The Suns will be shorthanded on Tuesday. Devin Booker remains out with a hip strain and will not be back for at least another week.
Dillon Brooks is out for the next four to six weeks with a broken left hand. Jordan Goodwin and Haywood Highsmith are also out.
In their absence, Phoenix will turn to Jalen Green , who has been in good form as of late. Grayson Allen will also have a heavier offensive burden. He is averaging 17.3 points and 3.9 assists this season. Collin Gillespie at 13.4 points and 4.7 assists rounds out a backcourt that will need a big night to compete with the Celtics.
The Back-to-Back Factor for the Celtics
Tuesday’s game in Phoenix is followed by Wednesday night in Denver against the Nuggets . That back-to-back context will likely influence Boston’s decision on Brown.
If the medical staff determines that managing Brown’s knee is the priority, sitting him against a shorthanded Suns team and preserving him for Denver makes sense. The Celtics have enough depth to navigate one night without their leading scorer. Doing it two nights in a row against a healthy Nuggets team is a different proposition.
Payton Pritchard has been extraordinary in recent weeks, averaging 23.6 points and shooting 54.4 percent from the field in his last 7 games. Derrick White brings his usual two-way reliability. Nikola Vucevic provides a steady interior presence. Boston has options.
GettyPayton Pritchard of the Boston Celtics
Final Word for the Celtics
The Celtics are in the middle of a statement road trip and have handled everything thrown at them. Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Lakers was the kind of performance that makes the rest of the East take notice.
Brown was brilliant on Sunday. Thirty-two points, seven assists, eight rebounds in LA. The decision Boston makes in the coming hours will shape both nights.
Phoenix is without some key pieces. Denver is next. Boston will be looking for another couple statement performances on the road.
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