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BOSTON — The Celtics will be without Jaylen Brown and Neemias Queta when they face the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night. Brown is dealing with an illness, while Queta is getting a rest night, per the team’s official injury report.
For the Bucks, meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo will make his return from a calf injury that’s sidelined him for five weeks, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Brown has routinely been avoiding back-to-back games this season, so it’s no surprise he’s out Monday after logging 38 minutes in Sunday’s 114-98 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Queta is coming off one of the best games of the season on Sunday; he erupted for 27 points and 17 rebounds in the victory. Both Celtics players had offseason knee surgery, so it’s no surprise the Celtics are more cautiously managing their minutes.
Last month, Ron Harper Jr. started in place of Brown both times he was sidelined, so he may once again get the nod. It’s also possible that Jordan Walsh, who started 20 straight games earlier this season, could get the nod.
With Queta out, one of either Nikola Vucevic or Luka Garza will slot into the starting lineup, with Vucevic appearing to be a more likely candidate. Garza, who has mostly fallen out of the rotation since the trade deadline, should see the floor more with Queta out.
It’s also notable that Baylor Scheierman, who is playing through a fractured left thumb, is off the injury report. Scheierman had a productive game on Sunday despite playing through the hand injury that he was initially listed as questionable for.
“I got some shots in this morning, this afternoon, and I feel ready to go,” Scheierman said ahead of Sunday’s game. “We’re just kind of evaluating it as it goes, but I feel good enough to be out there, and that’s how it’s going to be. I’m not going to sit out.”
Both the Celtics and Bucks are on the second night of a back-to-back
The Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 114-98 on Sunday night, while the Bucks fell to the Chicago Bulls 120-97.
Outside of Antetokounmpo, the Bucks have been led by Kevin Porter Jr (17.8 points, 7.5 assists per game), Ryan Rollins (17 points, 5.4 assists), and, more recently, Cam Thomas (14.1 points per game since being acquired at the trade deadline). Bobby Portis, Kyle Kuzma, Myles Turner, and AJ Green all also average double-figures.
The Celtics, meanwhile, have been led by Jaylen Brown (29 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5 assists), Derrick White (17.1 points, 5.7 assists), and Payton Pritchard (17 points, 5.4 assists).
Neemias Queta (10.1 points, 8.4 rebounds) has anchored the frontcourt as the team’s starting center, but Nikola Vucevic has also been productive since being acquired by the Celtics, averaging 12 points and 8.6 rebounds in 23.9 minutes off the bench.
The Celtics have the East’s second-best record at 40-20, while the Bucks have the East’s 11th-best record at 26-33. The Celtics have the second-best net rating in the NBA (+8.3), while the Bucks have the 23rd-best (-3.7).
Celtics-Bucks tips off at 7:30pm ET in Milwaukee.