In an embodiment of a team-first attitude and embrace of the sacrifice that comes with it, Boston Celtics wing Jaylen Brown has decided to play against the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night, despite twisting his ankle on Sunday night as Boston faced off against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
With the Celtics just 1.5 games behind the Toronto Raptors for second-place in the Eastern Conference standings, it would appear that Brown’s focus is on the postseason and the seeding. If the playoffs were to begin today, Boston would be playing against the Indiana Pacers. If they move up to the second seed, they would be facing the Brooklyn Nets.
Neither team provides an easy avenue to the second round of the playoffs but the Pacers are a notoriously tough team to face in the postseason. Plus, with Kyrie Irving now in Brooklyn, it would give the Celtics an extra reason to take it to the Nets.
“We need two big wins,” says Brown following Monday’s practice. “I’ll just push through it. I’ll be alright.”
Brown discusses his injuries further, saying that “you can’t really get the rest as you probably need to let your body recover. It’s probably why I keep re-aggravating the same injury. But you know, I think it’s all mental.”
“So just lock it out and come out and do what you got to do.”
Jaylen Brown says he is playing tomorrow in Houston:
"We need two big wins. I'll just push through it. I'll be alright."
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) February 10, 2020
Although Brown didn’t practice on Monday afternoon, getting the respite from his ankles that he sorely needs, Celtics head coach Brad Stevens says that he expects the fourth-year vet to play on Tuesday.
As Brown missed Friday’s game against his hometown Atlanta Hawks with an ankle injury, both of his ankles are injured. For his long-term and short-term health, it’s hardly advisable for Brown to play.
Nonetheless, with the All-Star Break merely days away, the Celtics swingman will be able to rest his joints soon enough.