:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66405574/usa_today_13976957.0.jpg)
Kemba Walker’s nagging knee injury is going to keep him out of the Boston Celtics lineup a little bit longer.
Walker, who has been dealing with left knee soreness and had the area drained along with receiving an injection to help with the recovery recently, is expected to miss his fifth straight game coming out of the All-Star break when the Celtics host the Houston Rockets Saturday night (8:30 p.m. ET).
I was tied up, but the Brad Stevens gave a couple of injury updates:
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) February 28, 2020
-Kemba Walker did not practice today and is likely out tomorrow. Hopeful that Walker will return on Tuesday.
-Robert Williams has been cleared and will be available to play with a minutes limit.
Walker didn’t practice Friday, but the hope is for Walker to ramp things up over the weekend and workout Sunday in an effort to try and play Tuesday when the Celtics matchup with the Brooklyn Nets.
With early next week set as a target date, Walker could be on a minutes restriction when he returns according to Brian Robb of The Boston Sports Journal. The Celtics have taken a cautious approach in bringing Walker back and want the point guard feeling as close to 100 percent as possible when he gets back to playing.
Kemba Walker could be on minutes limit when he comes back according to Brad Stevens but goal is to have him feeling great when he comes back.
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) February 28, 2020
Walker was one of the most durable guards in the NBA in recent years as he missed just six games over his final four seasons with the Charlotte Hornets. With Walker likely to sit out against the Rockets, it will be the 13th game he’s missed in his first year with Boston.
While the Celtics went 3-1 on their post-break west coast road trip without Walker, the star guard could raise the team to even another level in his return. This season, Walker is averaging 21.8 points on 42.9 percent shooting to go along with 5.0 assists and 4.1 rebounds in 32.2 minutes per game.