Joe Mazzulla
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Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla during a game against the Detroit Pistons in October 2025
Ahead of Friday night’s matchup with the Sacramento Kings, the Boston Celtics are once again grappling with an injury report that continues to grow at an unfortunate time.
Boston’s frontcourt depth has been tested repeatedly in recent games, but the latest update brings a far more consequential concern.
Jaylen Brown has been listed as doubtful due to left hamstring tightness and a right knee contusion, potentially leaving the Celtics without their consistent star as they look to halt recent momentum swings in the Eastern Conference.
Boston Celtics Face Potential Absence of MVP-Level Brown
Brown has missed just three games all season, a testament to both his durability and importance, though he has quietly managed hamstring tightness throughout the campaign.
His presence has been central to keeping Boston afloat during a season many expected to be transitional, particularly with Jayson Tatum sidelined by a long-term Achilles injury.
Rather than slipping down the standings, the Celtics have remained firmly in the title conversation.
Entering Friday, Boston sits third in the Eastern Conference at 29-18, a position built largely on Brown’s MVP-level production and leadership on both ends of the floor.
Through 44 games, Brown is averaging 29.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.0 steal per game while shooting 48.3% from the field and 35.5% from three-point range.
His scoring output ranks fourth league-wide, trailing only Tyrese Maxey, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Luka Doncic.
With the New York Knicks recently leaping past Boston into second place following a four-game winning streak, any absence looms large.
Coming off a 117-106 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, the Celtics are already searching for stability. Facing a gritty Kings team without Brown would only heighten the challenge.
Frontcourt Relief and Trade Deadline Context
There is at least some positive news further down the injury report.
Center Neemias Queta has been upgraded to probable after battling illness recently, a welcome development for a frontcourt that has been stretched thin.
With Luka Garza appearing sporadically on the injury report and availability fluctuating, Boston has been forced to rely on two-way big man Amari Williams for extended stretches.
While Williams has flashed energy, the Celtics have often turned to small-ball line-ups to compensate, a short-term fix that highlights broader roster concerns.
As the February 5 trade deadline approaches, Boston has increasingly been linked to frontcourt upgrades.
ESPN’s Shams Charania previously reported that the Celtics are actively exploring the market for a significant addition in the middle.
“They’ve been in the marketplace, trying to go get a big-time starting center potentially,” Charania said on The Pat McAfee Show. “So, they’re gonna be, I think, aggressive in moving the needle. They’ve got assets, they’ve got contracts to use and play with.”
Since then, a wide range of names has surfaced, from high-end options such as Ivica Zubac, Jaren Jackson Jr., Daniel Gafford, and Nic Claxton to more cost-effective targets like Yves Missi, Day’Ron Sharpe, and Andre Drummond.
Whether or not Boston ultimately pulls the trigger, the need is becoming clearer by the game.
With Brown’s status uncertain and the frontcourt stretched, adding a dependable interior presence could prove decisive if the Celtics hope to sustain a deep postseason run in an increasingly competitive East.