The Boston Celtics will be without Jae Crowder for the second straight game, head coach Brad Stevens announced prior to tonight’s game against the Utah Jazz.
According to Stevens, Crowder’s absence is due to a family health matter.
The 6-foot-6 small forward returned to Dallas to be with his family.
Boston’s next game after the Jazz will be against the Dallas Mavericks, a game in which Crowder is expected to play.
Without Crowder, the Celtics will likely turn to Marcus Smart to be in the starting lineup while rookie Jaylen Brown slides over to the small forward position.
Brown is in the starting lineup because the Celtics are without Avery Bradley who remains out with a right Achilles injury.
Stevens said Bradley, who tonight will miss his 17th game out of the team’s last 18 with the Achilles injury, will not join the team in Dallas for what will be the finale of their four-game West coast trip.
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While no official decision has been announced, but Bradley’s return will likely be sometime after the All-Star break.