The Celtics will get All-Star Jaylen Brown back in the lineup on Friday night for a showdown against the Los Angeles Lakers at TD Garden. Brown sat out Thursday’s win over the Wizards due to illness, the first game he missed this season. However, Boston had no trouble taking care of business without him, blowing out the Wizards by 45 points at Capital One Arena for their third straight win.
The dominant victory helped keep the Celtics starters minutes down in the win, ensuring Neemias Queta will be available for the back-to-back coming off a sprained ankle last week.
The Celtics will be finishing out a tough five games in seven nights stretch on Friday but will do so against a shorthanded Lakers squad. Luka Doncic (personal) and Marcus Smart (back) were declared out for the matchup this afternoon. Smart has not played since Nov. 25 due to the injury.
LeBron James was downgraded to doubtful due to right sciatica and left joint arthritis coming off a win over the Raptors in Toronto on Thursday night. James had the game-winning assist in the 123-120 victory but also saw his 1,297 game streak of scoring in double figures snapped while playing 36 minutes.
Despite those absences, the matchup should be a good test for the 13-9 Celtics, who have won eight of their last ten games. The Lakers are 16-5 overall including a 9-2 road record to begin the year.
