Now having reeled off 11 straight wins after dropping their first two contests, the Boston Celtics sit atop the Eastern Conference 13 games into the season. Even without Gordon Hayward, the Celtics have lived up to expectations thanks to the boost they’ve received from their young wings.
Now it seems they will have to lean on them heavier than ever before. Center Al Horford is already sidelined while in the league’s concussion protocol and now it appears superstar point guard Kyrie Irving is battling through some head issues of his own. Irving left last night’s contest against the Charlotte Hornets in the first minute after absorbing an inadvertent hit to the head from teammate Aron Baynes.
According to the Celtics Twitter account, Irving suffered a minor facial fracture as a result:
#NEBHInjuryReport Kyrie Irving suffered a minor facial fracture last night. He is currently listed as doubtful for tomorrow’s game.
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) November 11, 2017
Though facial fractures can be a tricky dilemma as we’ve seen with the Bulls’ Nikola Mirotic, this certain one appears to be very minor. Kyrie Irving will not require immediate surgery and according to the Vertical’s Shams Charania, he is expected to miss only one game and will then don a fitted mask for the weeks following as he recovers:
Sources: Boston’s Kyrie Irving will likely miss Sunday’s game with facial fracture, then play through the injury with a fitted mask for two weeks.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 11, 2017
This has to be a relief for Boston to hear that their new franchise player in Irving shouldn’t miss much time at all. Irving has played with a mask on in the past so adjusting to the feel of it shouldn’t be an issue for the 25-year-old.
The electrifying floor general has looked solid leading his own team these first few weeks, averaging upwards of 20 points per game and 5 assists.
