UPDATE: Brown ($8,000) will play Sunday vs. the Nuggets, while Kristaps Porzingis (illness) and Jrue Holiday (finger) have been ruled out. In this situation, Al Horford ($4,700) and Sam Hauser ($3,700) should start for the second straight game.
The Boston Celtics are coming off a late collapse to the Cleveland Cavaliers, but they look to bounce back against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets at 1 p.m. EST on Sunday afternoon.
Unfortunately for Boston, reigning NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown may be unavailable for the inter-conference clash after being listed questionable with a knee issue.
Brown’s role in this Celtics squad is undeniably integral to the team’s success. With averages of 23.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists, the four-time All-Star is once again a key cog in a true Eastern Conference contender.
The Celtics are shorthanded as-is with Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis each bouncing in and out of the lineup over the past couple of weeks. Both are doubtful for Sunday, so if Brown misses the contest as well, Boston may have a difficult time dispatching Jokic and the 39-21 Nuggets amidst his MVP-caliber season.
In the case that Brown doesn’t suit up, look for Derrick White and Payton Pritchard to assume greater shares of the offensive responsibility.
The Celtics are 42-18, good for second place in the Eastern Conference as they look to repeat as NBA champions.
