After some mid-season struggles, the Boston Celtics may be surging in advance of the NBA playoffs.
They have won nine of their last 12 games, which includes a 140-99 drubbing of the Milwaukee Bucks on March 30, and they have the opportunity to finish with the second-best record in the league.
On Tuesday, they face the Philadelphia 76ers, who are in third place in the Eastern Conference, in a potential postseason preview.
However, Boston will be without one of its stars, as Jaylen Brown will not suit up due to a back ailment.
Jaylen Brown OUT tonight in Philadelphia.
— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) April 4, 2023
The team is led by the one-two punch of Brown and Jayson Tatum, and both are having their best seasons yet.
Brown is averaging 26.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists a game while shooting a career-high 49.3 percent from the field, while Tatum is putting up 30.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per contest.
The Celtics started the season 21-5, then went on a nine-game winning streak in January, which led many to pick them to reach the NBA Finals for the second straight season.
But they suffered some troubling losses lately, including one to the Brooklyn Nets in early March in which they blew a large lead, which was followed by a double-overtime loss to the New York Knicks and an overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
While Tatum played very poorly in last June’s championship series against the Golden State Warriors, Brown often played up to his standards and allowed Boston to at least be competitive.
But it wasn’t enough, as they lost the world title in six games to Stephen Curry and crew.
NEXT: Fans React To What Kendrick Perkins Said About Jaylen Brown
