By Alex Barth, 985TheSportsHub.com
The Celtics will be without their second leading scorer Friday night, as the team announced Friday morning Jayson Tatum will be held out of the game with a groin injury and his current status is ‘day-to-day’.
Tatum suffered the injury in the second half of Wednesday’s 119-95 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. This will be just the second time this season Tatum has been inactive for a game. He also sat out the team’s Jan. 15 home game against Detroit, which the Celtics lost. The 2017 third overall pick is averaging 21.5 points, seven rebounds, and three assists per game this season, while shooting 36.6 percent from behind the arc.
Meanwhile, Jaylen Brown’s status remains up in the air. The team reported Friday morning Brown will partake in “extra work after shootaround to determine whether or not he can play”. Brown missed Wednesday’s game with an ankle sprain he suffered Monday in the team’s win over the Lakers. Brown is averaging 20 points per game this season, third on the team behind Tatum and Kemba Walker (21.7 ppg).
Without Brown, the Celtics could be down four players on Friday. Enes Kanter (hip) and Robert Williams (hip) had both previously been ruled out. In reaction to a potential short bench, the team recalled center Tacko Fall from the Maine Red Claws Friday morning. The rookie has played in four games this season for the C’s, averaging four points per game. Tonight could be the first time Fall gets NBA regular season action in Orlando, the city where he played his college ball at UCF.
Friday marks the beginning of a five-day, three-game road trip for the 29-14 Celtics. Tip-off in Orlando is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Sean Grande and Cedric Maxwell will have the call on 98.5 The Sports Hub, with pregame coverage starting at 6:30.
Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Hate mail? Let him hear it on Twitter @RealAlexBarth