Jaylen Brown is expected to return Thursday when the Boston Celtics face the Miami Heat after missing two games with back spasms, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Boston dropped both games in his absence after winning nine of its previous 11. Brown has also been outspoken about what he sees as uneven officiating.
Writing for The Athletic, Jay King noted that Brown was fined $35,000 for criticizing referees following a loss to the San Antonio Spurs, a penalty Brown said he anticipated.
He explained that he felt compelled to speak up given how rarely the Celtics get to the free-throw line.
Boston averages fewer than 20 free throw attempts per game, the lowest mark in the league.
Brown ranks 15th individually despite being one of the NBA’s most frequent drivers, trailing only Deni Avdija and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Brown said he believes officiating varies by player and team, rather than being applied evenly.
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