Crowder returns to Celtics lineup, Brown (hip flexor) out until after All-Star break

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When it comes to injury-related news involving the Boston Celtics, it seems to always be a mix of good and not-so-good news.

Boston has Jae Crowder back after missing two games because of health issues involving his family. But Jaylen Brown (hip flexor) won’t return until sometime after the All-Star break and Gerald Green (sick) is questionable to play tonight.

Having bodies in and out of the lineup due to illness or injury has been a common thread throughout the season for the Celtics.

Despite being at less than full strength for most of the season, Boston (35-19) still has the second-best record in the Eastern Conference which is the fifth-best record in the NBA.

“For certainly a short stretch, you can plug guys in and guys will play their roles well and there’s good awareness of what they do well and how they fit in around their teammates,” Boston’s Brad Stevens told reporters earlier today. “The longer that it goes, your full health and depth is more important. For a game or two or three or whatever the case may be, those things are very manageable. The issue then becomes is, you’re really thin, the other night when Jaylen strained his hip flexor and Jae’s out, we know that somebody that hasn’t played yet is going to play quite a bit. I thought James Young came in and did a great job. That’s why you have to have the right mindset when your time comes.”

In other injury news, Avery Bradley (right Achilles strain) will miss his 13th straight game, and 17 of the last 18, tonight. No timetable has been given for his return, but it’s likely to be sometime after the All-Star break.

“We met as a staff (Sunday) and every indication is he’s feeling as good as he’s felt, right now,” Stevens said. ‘What that means, I don’t want to speculate nor do I know.”

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