7:44 PM
The Boston Celtics had forward Jaylen Brown back in the lineup for the first time in two weeks Monday against the Houston Rockets after he missed the prior eight games with a right hamstring strain.
Brown, who was on a minutes restriction according to coach Ime Udoka, finished with 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting.
Brown played 23 minutes in the starting lineup.
Udoka said that Brown was able to get some work in on the court over the past several days in advance of his return, allowing him to play against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday.
The Celtics got starting center Robert Williams back on Monday after he missed 212 games with a knee injury. Williams had a game-high 15 rebound in 23 minutes. Udoka had said before the game that he wouldn't have a cap on Williams' minutes, but that he would try to keep him under 30.
Josh Richardson missed the game with a non-COVID illness, while Boston got Brown and Williams back.
"Get one back, get one who's missing," Udoka said.
Boston's biggest challenge is developing chemistry for its group because of the constant shuffling of players.
Udoka said the chemistry was in the missed time. We haven't had a lot of continuity all year so that doesn't change much. He knows his role and we have sets for him so he's going to come out and be aggressive. It's easy for him to find his spots, but more so with other guys getting used to him getting back and him getting used to what we've been doing in the time he's been gone.
