The Warriors face a tough opponent in the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, but the defending champions will be without one of their best players for the 2022 NBA Finals rematch at TD Garden.

Celtics shooting guard Jaylen Brown will miss his third straight game when the Warriors come to town as he deals with an injury after Boston officially ruled him out Tuesday with a left hip flexor strain. Brown averaged 25.7 points on 40 percent shooting with 7.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals in six games before missing his first game on Nov. 2.

While the injury, which has bothered Brown since training camp, will force the reigning Finals MVP to miss another game, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla told 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Zolak & Bertrand” on Tuesday that he has “no worries” about it. makes about.

“He’s doing well,” Mazzulla said of Brown. “It’s a strain, and he’s working really hard every day on treatment and just working on getting back on his feet. So don’t worry, and I don’t think he is either.”

While the injury does not appear to be a long-term issue in Mazzulla’s eyes, Brown will not be on the floor to face the Warriors. Both teams enter the big game with just one loss in the 2024-25 NBA season, and the showdown with Jayson Tatum and Co. will certainly serve as a benchmark for Golden State even without Brown in Boston’s starting lineup.

Warriors guard De’Anthony Melton (back) is Golden State’s only player on the injured list and has been ruled out for Wednesday’s game. The team got Steph Curry back for Monday night’s 125-112 win over the Washington Wizards at Capitol One Arena, and the Warriors superstar finished with a team-high 24 points on 7-for-15 shooting with six assists and three rebounds .

Curry described Golden State as “vibrating” on “Warriors Postgame Live” after the win, and the team will certainly look to keep that energy rolling into their matchup with the Brown-less Celtics on Wednesday.

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