The Celtics returned from All-Star break with a clean bill of health (outside of Danilo Gallinari), as they beat the Indiana Pacers Thursday night in a 142-138 overtime win.
Jaylen Brown missed four games with a facial fracture before playing in this past weekend's All-Star Game -- leading Team LeBron with 35 points, 14 rebounds and five assists -- while also wearing a new face mask.
"It's gonna take some getting used to," Brown said following the C's victory over the Pacers. "Some things that I gotta adjust and adapt to, but I will. Today was the first, I would say, real game with it on, and I think it went fine. But it's gonna definitely take some getting used to and some adjustments, and being able to adapt to it. But, so far so good."
Brown, who sustained the injury back on Feb. 9th during the Celtics 106-99 win over the Philadelphia 76ers -- when he collided with teammate Jayson Tatum -- didn't seem to let the mask bother him as he finished with 30 points on 11-of-24 shooting to go along with 11 rebounds, three assists and a block against the Pacers.
"It's pretty thick. Sometimes it gets a little hot on your face," Brown said about wearing the mask. "But I felt protected. I didn't shy away from contact, I didn't feel like I had to alter my game a little or anything like that. So, it's a little uncomfortable at times, and then sometimes you gotta get your head around and make sure you see everything."
While Brown won't need surgery for the maxillary facial fracture diagnosis, the Celtics wing may have to get use to wearing the mask at least for the next month or so -- despite the two weeks that have passed since the initial injury occurred.
"My guess is around somewhere between four to six weeks," said Brown on the approximate timetable of having to wear the mask. "I think a week has already went by, with the All-Star [break]. We're going to be real acquainted with each other after this duration."
With 22 regular season games remaining and owning the league's best record of 43-17, Boston will look to stay healthy and keep a hold on the the No. 1 seed in the East before the playoffs begin in April -- to which Brown could be mask free if his recovery continues to progress as quickly as it has up to this point.
In the meantime, the Celtics face the Sixers (39-19) on the road Saturday night and ABC has the tip-off at 8:30 ET.
Joel Pavón
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