NBA

Celtics' Hopes for a Long Playoff Run Take a Serious Hit

Within a week, the Boston Celtics have lost four key contributors to injuries, dealing a serious blow to their chances of making a long playoff run.

On Thursday night, the team lost starter Jaylen Brown after he fell on his head and neck following a dunk. He's now expected to be out at least a week after entering the NBA's concussion protocol.

Then on Sunday night, in a game the Celtics lost to the Indiana Pacers, All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving left with knee soreness. He is expected to miss multiple games.

The news only got worse on Monday. First, Yahoo's Shams Charania reported that center Daniel Theis suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee on Sunday and will undergo season-ending surgery.

Less than two hours later, Charania reported that Celtics guard Marcus Smart tore a tendon in his right thumb while scrambling for a loose ball in Sunday's game, an injury that will keep him out indefinitely.

Al Horford also sat out Sunday's game with an illness, and could miss Wednesday's game against the Washington Wizards.

All that leaves the Celtics with only a handful of healthy players - and potentially only two of its regular starters - with the start of the NBA playoffs about a month away.

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