PHOENIX — In a stunning development that could shake up Tuesday night’s matchup, Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown has been listed as questionable with a right knee contusion, raising major concerns just hours after he delivered a dominant performance.
Brown was seen icing his right knee in the locker room following Sunday’s blowout victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, where he exploded for 32 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. The 29.2-points-per-game scorer — who is also averaging 7.0 rebounds and 4.9 assists this season — has already missed five games and now faces the real possibility of sitting out against the Suns.
Adding to the drama, the Celtics’ other superstar, Jayson Tatum, remains sidelined as he continues his long recovery from a ruptured Achilles tendon. Head coach Joe Mazzulla declined to confirm whether Tatum practiced with the team on Saturday, though the All-Star has been ramping up his work, including recent sessions with the G League affiliate.
The Celtics head into the contest on the first night of a back-to-back, with a tough road game in Denver against the Nuggets waiting on Wednesday. That grueling schedule could push the team to err on the side of caution with Brown’s knee.
Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns are dealing with their own injury crisis and will be severely shorthanded. Dillon Brooks is expected to miss the next 4-6 weeks after fracturing his left hand, while Devin Booker will be out at least another week with a hip strain. Jordan Goodwin (calf) and Haywood Highsmith (knee) are also unavailable.
Despite the absences, the Suns have shown resilience on the glass, ranking sixth in offensive rebound percentage at 33.2%. Their defense has been solid too, posting the NBA’s ninth-best defensive rating (112.5), nearly matching Boston’s eighth-best mark (112.2).
With Booker and Brooks sidelined, the spotlight shifts to Phoenix’s remaining weapons: Grayson Allen (17.3 points, 3.9 assists) leads the way as the top available scorer, while Collin Gillespie (13.4 points, 4.7 assists) and Jalen Green (13.3 points, 2.4 assists) will need to step up in big moments.
The Celtics enter the game red-hot, winners of 8 of their last 9 contests and sitting at 37-19 — the second-best record in the Eastern Conference and fourth-best in the NBA. They also boast the league’s fourth-best net rating and third-ranked offense.
The Suns, at 33-25, hold the seventh spot in the Western Conference but have stumbled lately, dropping 6 of their last 10 games amid the injury wave.