Why Celtics star Jaylen Brown won't be shot in revenge against Grant Williams

Grant Williams angered many of his former Celtics teammates with a reckless foul on Jayson Tatum late in Boston's win on Friday night.

Following the contest, Jaylen Brown repeatedly criticized Grant Williams, who received an automatic ejection for his blatant 2-foul for tackling Tatum, calling it a “football game with Ray Lewis coming through the middle.” Immediately after Game Brown also spoke for Williams.

But Brown will have to wait for the Celtics star to get his revenge and teach Williams a lesson.

The Celtics excluded Brown due to a left hip flexor strain during Saturday's return game against the Charlotte Hornets. It's the first game Brown will miss this season.

“It’s kind of hurt him the last couple games,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters before tipoff. per NBC Sports Boston. “Day by day. See how he feels. He's been playing it out for a while, so see how he feels every day.”

The injury to Brown, who is averaging 25.7 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists, could explain his struggles from distance this season. Brown has missed 20 of 21 3-point attempts over the last three games as he is shooting just 26.3% from distance on the season.

It's a smart move by the Celtics to give Brown a second straight game while he battles this illness, even if it's to send a message to Williams on the field.

But Brown will have another opportunity to do so when the Celtics close out the regular season with two straight games against the Hornets at TD Garden.