The Celtics led Wednesday's exhibition game against the Raptors, 21-12, when Jaylen Brown exited because of hamstring tightness.
The Celtics led Wednesday's exhibition game against the Raptors, 21-12, when Jaylen Brown exited because of hamstring tightness.Barry Chin/Globe Staff
Celtics forward Jaylen Brown, who left Wednesday’s preseason win over the Raptors because of hamstring tightness, took part in team drills Friday but sat out the scrimmage portions of practice.
Coach Joe Mazzulla said Brown is day-to-day, and his status for Wednesday’s season opener against the 76ers is unclear.
“I expect him to be at his best every single day and then we’ll take it from there,” Mazzulla said. “But just one day at a time.”
Midway through the first quarter Wednesday, Brown appeared to be moving gingerly while jogging back on defense. He grabbed his left hamstring, exited the game, and did not return to the bench.
Boston led, 21-12, when Brown exited, and held on for a 110-108 win without him when Xavier Tillman converted a winning floater in the final second.
“You never want to lose Jaylen, but at the end of the day there’s no looking over the shoulder,” Mazzulla said. “This is what we have now; this is what we have to win. So we just have to maintain that level of self-awareness of, this is where we are, this is what we have, this is what’s going on in the environment. How do we adapt to that? And then we’ve just got to go. So, I thought we did that pretty well.”
The Celtics, of course, are already without superstar forward Jayson Tatum, who is sidelined indefinitely following last May’s Achilles injury. The absence of Brown, even in the short term, would put considerable stress on the offense.
Guard Payton Pritchard said that the Celtics’ approach should not change if Brown is sidelined.
“You should never think of like, when somebody’s coming out, you’ve got to play a certain way,” Pritchard said. “For me, no matter who’s on the court, if that’s the right shot I’ve got to take, I’ve got to take it. If it’s the right pass to make, I’ve got to make that pass. That’s how basketball should be viewed.”
Welcome aboard
The Celtics on Thursday signed Ron Harper Jr. to a two-way contract, filling the void that was created when two-way contract player RJ Luis was waived Wednesday.
Harper, 25, was on Boston’s training camp roster last season while recovering from shoulder surgery. He played four games with the Celtics’ G League affiliate in Maine before signing a two-way deal with the Pistons last January.
“Last training camp I was really grateful because I learned a lot of things,” Harper said. “They were coming off an NBA championship, so just being in here, being around the program, just being able to see and being able to learn things. I feel like that was a big part of me getting a two-way in Detroit, of me getting that opportunity, and then when the opportunity came to come back, it was something I jumped on very quick.”
Mazzulla said the Celtics took note of Harper’s improvement since last fall.
“The shooting has gotten better, he can think the game, and then he can compete at a high level,” Mazzulla said. “So, we’re glad to have him, and he’s just got as much of an opportunity to play as anyone else. He’s got to continue to get better.”
Finding a way
Pritchard had an unusual stat line in Wednesday win. The reigning Sixth Man of the Year was 1 for 11 from the field and 0 for 8 from the 3-point line, but he gathered 10 rebounds and the Celtics outscored the Raptors by 19 points when he was on the floor.
“When shots aren’t falling, how did you affect the game?” Pritchard said. “I’ve got to try to make plays for my teammates. Assists, rebounds, steals. Not every night I’m going to hit shots. Now that’s not [usually] going to be a case where I’m going to go 0 for 8 from three. But can you still be on the court making plays?”
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach.