Celtics Notebook: Kemba preps for homecoming, Jaylen Brown set to return after battling infection

The Celtics got a bit of good news on the injury front Thursday, as Jaylen Brown has joined the team in Charlotte ahead of a matchup against the Hornets Thursday night. The shooting guard has missed the past three games with an infection due to an abscess on his leg that needed to be drained. The condition caused him to go to the hospital five times to take care of the issue in the past week.

“I’m glad it’s behind me now. Feeling a lot better,” Brown told reporters in Charlotte. “But I had to keep going back and forth to the hospital because I was pretty down and out.”

Brown was listed as probable by the team and said he will have no restrictions for the game after working on his conditioning for the past two days in Boston. Joining him in action could be center Enes Kanter, who hasn't played since opening night due to a knee injury. Kanter has taken part in basketball activities this week and was upgraded to questionable on the injury report.

Kemba goes home

The All-Star point guard will play his first game at the Spectrum Center as a visitor on Thursday night in a primetime national TV showdown against his former squad. However, unlike past returns for big-name free agents on the Celtics (Gordon Hayward, Al Horford) to their former homes, Walker expects nothing from good vibes from the fanbase he played in front of for eight seasons.

"Nothing but positive things, I hope," Walker said when asked about his reception. "I don't think I did anything wrong. I did an interview yesterday and they asked me the same question, and I'm not sure why that question should even be brought up, honestly. I think it should be all positive reactions.

"It's going to be great. It's going to be great. It's going to be a great feeling, and like I said, I'm looking forward to it. I've done plenty of good things here. ... I've always interacted with the fans, I've always signed autographs, I've always taken pictures and I was always nice to everybody. So I don't think there will be no negative reactions."

Walker's former team has gotten off to a surprising 4-3 start without the All-Star, with most of the wins coming against a weak schedule.

"I watch every game," Walker said. "I watch every game, whenever we are not playing at the same time. It's exciting, actually, to see their growth, especially Devonte' (Graham), he stole a couple of my moves, I see that in his game a little bit, but it's so exciting. I know how hard those guys work, and I was their vet last year, Devonte' and Miles [Bridges] and Dwayne [Bacon], we were always together, and even now we have a little group chat that we're always in, talking. So yeah, we still communicate. But yeah, those are my guys forever, regardless of what teams we are on. That's what it's about, man. That's what this league is about. Creating friendships and maintaining them, and that's how it's been."

Rozier spends time with former teammates 

The Celtics already got a chance to face off against Terry Rozier in the preseason, but that didn't stop the former Celtic from catching up with his ex-teammates on Wednesday night.

Like Walker, Rozier has been keeping close tabs on his former team in the wake of signing a three-year deal worth nearly $60 million with the Hornets.

“I keep up all the time,” he told reporters in Charlotte. “I’ve been there for four years. It’s still a part of me. I just keep up with the guys, make sure everybody’s doing good. Brad, all the other coaches and stuff like that. That’s still one of my homes.”

While the bright lights will be on Walker tonight, look for Rozier to try to steal the show in one of the few nationally televised games for the Hornets this year.

“It’s a big one for everybody,” Rozier said. “It’s probably our biggest game all year. It’s on TV, we finally got a TV game. But obviously, playing against my old team, treating it like every game though. Obviously want to win, it’s going to be very competitive, but it’s always going to be fun going against old coach, old teammates, just the whole thing playing against the Celtics.”