PHOENIX — Jaylen Brown will not participate in Tuesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns due to a right knee contusion. This absence marks the first game of a back-to-back for the Celtics, who are set to face the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday in Denver. Brown’s presence will be missed, especially as the team continues to adjust to life without Jayson Tatum, who remains sidelined as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
The Suns are also facing significant player absences, with their top two scorers, Devin Booker (right hip strain) and Dillon Brooks (left hand strain), unable to play. Additionally, Jordan Goodwin is out due to a left calf strain, and Haywood Highsmith is being managed for a right knee injury.
In light of these injuries, the Suns will rely on contributors like Allen, who averages 17.3 points and 3.9 assists, along with Gillespie and Green who contribute 13.4 and 13.3 points respectively per game.
As both teams prepare for this matchup, the Celtics come in with momentum, having won eight of their last nine games and currently boasting the second-best record in the Eastern Conference at 37-19. Their overall performance includes the NBA’s fourth-best record, fourth-best net rating, and a potent offense that ranks third in the league.
Conversely, the Suns have struggled in recent games, losing six of their last ten, which leaves them with a record of 33-25, placing them seventh in the Western Conference. Nevertheless, they maintain the ninth-best defensive rating at 112.5, edging out the Celtics, who hold an impressive 112.2 defensive rating. Additionally, the Suns excel on the offensive boards, possessing the sixth-best offensive rebound percentage at 33.2%.
The Celtics and Suns will tip off at 9 PM ET, with both teams eager to turn their fortunes around in a matchup filled with intrigue given the current challenges faced by both rosters.