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Kemba Walker will miss today’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers due to knee soreness:
Brad Stevens says Kemba Walker will be out "at minimum" the next two games because his knee soreness flared up on Thursday: "I don't think it's anything we think is a long-, long-term thing by any means. We certainly may have to manage it."
— Nicole Yang (@nicolecyang) February 1, 2020
Walker who is averaging 22 points, four rebounds, and five assists has missed five games so far this season. This will now rise to a minimum of seven. This leaves the Celtics shorthanded against their bitter rivals at the TD Garden tonight. However, with the season reaching it’s midway point, it’s better to rest the All-Star guard than risk a long term injury later down the line.
Enes Kanter joins Kemba on the injury report for tonight’s game and there is still no word on when Robert Williams will be returning to basketball activity either.
#NEBHInjuryReport vs. Philadelphia:
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 1, 2020
Enes Kanter (right hip contusion) - OUT
Kemba Walker (left knee soreness) - OUT
Kemba has already missed more games this season than his last three combined. The 30-year-old has played eight years and 605 games in the league.
Kemba will be sorely missed against a Sixers team that boasts fearsome size, but has shown a weakness when defending quicker guards. StatsMuse has Kemba averaging 22.3 points, 4.3 assists and 1.7 rebounds in the three games he has played against them this year. Boston will need to find production from their All-Star forward Jayson Tatum along with Jaylen Brown and Gordon Hayward should they wish to come out of this game victorious.
The Celtics host the Sixers at 8:30 pm tonight.