As the Boston Celtics continue their march to the postseason, they’re merely a single game up on the New York Knicks for second place in the Eastern Conference. Friday night’s game against the Atlanta Hawks is critical, but one of Boston’s best players is banged up.
Originally designated as having a calf injury, Celtics F Jaylen Brown now has some additional light shed on an ailment that impacts his availability ahead of tip-off at 7:30 p.m. ET.
With that in mind, let’s dive into the latest Jaylen Brown injury update, also weaving in how it could impact PrizePicks player projections for Friday night’s Hawks vs. Celtics outing.
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Jaylen Brown Injury Update vs. Hawks Tonight
Initially, the Celtics listed Brown as questionable for Friday night with left calf tightness. Over the course of Friday, however, that was clarified to be left Achilles tendinitis, resulting in the MVP candidate being downgraded to out.
Brown, Boston’s leader this season, has played in 65 of 72 possible games to this point. He’s already met the NBA’s required mark for award eligibility, so the team being cautious with him isn’t a surprise. Still, a shorthanded Celtics team aims to keep pace for a top spot in the East.
Thus far, Brown has averaged 28.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game — all career-high marks. He’s also shooting 47.7% from the field and 34.2% from deep while playing reliable defense, helping him deliver superstar-level impact for the C’s.
Unfortunately for Boston, they’ll take on a red-hot Hawks team without Brown’s services.
Jaylen Brown Injury Impact: Which Celtics Players to Target?
With Brown ruled out, the focus naturally shifts to fellow star forward Jayson Tatum. Tatum is working his way back from an Achilles injury of his own, having made his season debut on March 6 against the Dallas Mavericks after sustaining a rupture in last year’s playoffs.
Tatum hasn’t always looked like his pre-injury self since returning, and the numbers back it up. In nine games, his average of 19.1 points on 39.1% shooting from the field and 30.9% from 3-point land is much lower than what many have grown accustomed to seeing.
With that said, Tatum is still getting his legs back under him and is contributing in a secondary role. Could he be leaned upon more on Friday?
According to databallr, Tatum’s usage rate spiked 9.0% in minutes without Brown last season. He also poured in 7.8 more points per 75 possessions.
Jayson Tatum vs. Hawks Projections, Picks
Here are some top Jayson Tatum projections vs. the Hawks tonight, via PrizePicks.
- 25.5 Points
- 9 Rebounds
- 5 Assists
- 39.5 Pts + Rebs + Asts
- 45.5 Fantasy Score
- And More
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Make Hawks vs. Celtics Picks on PrizePicks
Jaylen Brown may be missing Hawks vs. Celtics, but there’s no reason you should go without opportunities to turn your NBA predictions into real-money rewards.
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