One of the Boston Celtics’ most important players has reportedly been dealing with a pretty notable injury throughout the team’s Eastern Conference Finals series against the Miami Heat.
On Thursday night, the Boston Celtics will once again be competing for their playoff lives when they look to avoid elimination in Game 5 against the Miami Heat. After losing the first three games of the series, including the first two at home, the team was able to keep the series going with a dominant 116-99 victory in Miami on Tuesday.
Related: NBA games today – Get watch times and odds for tonight’s playoff matchup
Part of the reason the Boston Celtics are on the cusp of seeing their season end earlier than expected has been the disappointing play of some of their key players. One of them is Six Man of the Year award winner Malcolm Brogdon. However, it seems that the 30-year-old may have a good excuse for his quiet play over the last couple of games.
Boston Celtics record (’22-’23): 57-25
On Wednesday night, The Athletic reported that Brogdon has been competing with “a partial tear in the tendon coming out of his right elbow that leads into his forearm.” The tear allegedly occurred in Game 1, however, it is actually a worsening of a preexisting injury. Sources told the outlet that Malcolm Brogdon had actually developed “golfer’s elbow soreness” during their semifinals series against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Unsurprisingly, since the injury is on his shooting arm, it has had a major effect on his offense. While the tendon tear reportedly occurred in the first quarter of Game 1, and the Boston Celtics bench star was still able to post 19 points, in the three games since he has only scored a combined 15 points. Which is what he averaged per game during the season.
Brogdon was one of the team’s biggest acquisitions during the offseason and he has proven to be a difference maker as the seven-year veteran was willing to take on a bench role, after being a starter for several years, and help the Boston Celtics pursue a championship in 2023.