BOSTON — Boston Celtics star Kemba Walker will miss Friday night’s game against the Atlanta Hawks because of a bout of the flu, Brad Stevens said after the team’s morning shootaround.
This will mark the second game Walker, who was listed as questionable Thursday, has missed this season, his first with the Celtics after spending the first eight seasons of his career with the Charlotte Hornets. Over the past four years in Charlotte, Walker — who is averaging 22.5 points and 5.2 assists and finished third in the first round of All-Star voting released Thursday among Eastern Conference guards — has missed five games combined over the past four seasons.
Jaylen Brown, who missed Tuesday’s game in Charlotte with an illness of his own, is expected to play Friday, with Marcus Smart likely to step into Walker’s place in the starting lineup.
Hawks star Trae Young, who led all East guards in the first round of All-Star voting, will be back on the court Friday after missing the past week with a sprained ankle.
Source : ESPN
