BOSTON -- The Celtics will again step on the floor without their leading scorer Kyrie Irving when they host the Charlotte Hornets tonight.
Irving will miss his second game in a row with a left hip strain injury suffered in the loss to Golden State on Saturday.
This will be Irving’s eighth game missed this season, with Boston going 5-2 in his absence.
Prior to the victory over Brooklyn on Monday, Celtics coach Brad Stevens alluded to the possibility that Irving’s injury might result in him missing a couple games this week.
Still, Irving missing games is something Boston anticipated would happen to some degree this season, injuries or no injuries.
Prior to the win over the Nets, Stevens said the team had planned on Irving missing some games this season.
“With [Irving]...we’re gonna sit him eight to 12 games anyway,” Stevens said. “So when he does have nicks and bruises, it does make sense to sit. This [injury] seems a little bigger than that, but again, I don’t anticipate it being long term.”
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Of the seven games Irving has missed, five have been due to injuries with one being to attend a ceremony in honor of his grandfather, and another to rest.
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As has been the case when Irving does not play, look for Terry Rozier to get the starting nod for the Celtics.
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