Jaylen Brown ‘doubtful-to-out,’ Robert Williams unlikely to play versus New York Knicks

All signs are pointing to it being more than a one game absence for Celtics shooting guard Jaylen Brown.

Brown, who missed Wednesday’s win over the Milwaukee Bucks due to an illness, still isn’t feeling better and did not participate in this morning’s team shootaround ahead of the C’s Friday night matchup with the New York Knicks. Celtics coach Brad Stevens said Brown is “doubtful-to-out” against the Knicks.

The C’s will be shorthanded with Brown likely not playing, but also with Enes Kanter, who is dealing with a left knee contusion and hasn’t played since the season opener, being ruled out already and Robert Williams was declared doubtful for the game, too, with a left-hip injury. Williams had suited up in all four of the C’s contests, but played a season-low 14 minutes against the Bucks.

Marcus Smart, who took Brown’s spot in the starting lineup versus the Bucks and scored 19 points on 7-of-16 shooting, will most likely get the nod to fill in for Brown.

Surprisingly, the C’s have fared well without Brown in the lineup. According to Rich Keefe of WEEI, Brown has missed 25 games in his career and the C’s have a 20-5 record in those tilts, including an 8-0 mark last year.

Brown, who signed a four-year, $107 million contract prior to the season, is averaging 17.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 28.7 minutes over the three games he has played in this season.