Jaylen Brown doubtful for Game 1 vs. Sixers but could play early during series

WALTHAM -- Jaylen Brown is not expected to play during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Sixers, but the 21-year-old seems to have avoided a lengthy absence after suffering a hamstring injury on Saturday night against the Bucks.

Brad Stevens said tests on the left hamstring came back negative on Sunday, but the shooting guard remains sore less than 24 hours after suffering the injury.

"The last email I saw (from team doctors) is he still has some soreness," Stevens said. "Didn't try to do anything, that I know of, running-wise today. He did have some testing, and that looked good, thankfully. Doubtful for tomorrow. But I guess he could play ... (and) it looks like it could be something that allows him to play as the series goes on."

With Brown likely to be out, the C's will consider a variety of options in Brown's place of the starting five against a Sixers team that have won 19 of their last 20 games.

"We could go either Marcus starting, we could keep Semi in there, or Shane," said Stevens. "We've got to fill out one more spot, so we'll do that. We'll decide that after shootaround."

With J.J. Redick looming as a tough defensive option for the Celtics at the 2, the odds are the C's will go small with Smart or Larkin in that spot to give them a player that has the speed to hang with Redick running around screens all over the perimeter.

"Obviously he a big part of what we do," Horford said of Brown. "So, again, we've been through it all year. Some of our guys need to get ready and rise up for the occasion. And I expect some of those guys off the bench to come in and provide us that spark."

For more on Brown's hamstring injury and the potential risks and limitations involved with an early return to action, check out Dr. Flynn's piece from earlier today.

Series schedule announced

With a couple of Eastern Conference games scheduled to be played on next Monday night, the C's will have a rare 6 p.m. ET start on a weeknight for Game 4 in Philadelphia. Here's a full look at the full series schedule, including set start times for the first four games.