Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown suffers brutal facial fracture after taking an elbow from his OWN TEAMMATE Jayson Tatum... and he 'could now miss the All-Star Game'

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Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown is expected to be out until sometime after the February 19 All-Star Game after suffering a facial fracture from a collision with teammate Jayson Tatum.

Brown had just missed a corner 3-pointer in Wednesday's 106-99 win over the visiting Philadelphia 76ers when both he and Tatum went after the offensive rebound. With the All-Star teammates focused on the ball, Tatum's right elbow slammed into the left side of Brown's face, sending the 6-foot-7 swingman to the hardwood.

Tatum, who was credited with the offensive rebound, did not initially notice Brown writing on the court, but soon turned his attention to his injured teammate.

At the start of the third quarter, the team announced that he had a facial contusion and would not return. After the game, coach Joe Mazzulla said he had no more information, but reserve guard Malcolm Brogdon said Brown appeared to be in pain when he left.

'I called him but he didn't answer,' Mazzulla said. 'But I'll get that ASAP. I hope he's OK.'

Brown's status could prompt the Celtics to make a deal before Thursday's 3 pm EST trade deadline, but their options may be limited – particularly on the wings.

Tatum had 12 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds for Boston, which won for the fourth time in five games to add to the NBA's best record (39-16). The 76ers (34-19) are second in the Atlantic Division and third in the Eastern Conference, having lost both matchups with the Celtics this season.

'Boston has beaten us twice, and Boston won the East last year. Boston is the best team in the East. I said that before,' Sixers coach Doc Rivers said. 'It's our job to prove that wrong. But we have a lot of time to do that.'

Joel Embiid scored 28 points and James Harden added 26 points and 11 assists for the Sixers, who lost their second game in a row. They had won nine of their previous 11.

Marcus Smart, Robert Williams III, and Al Horford all missed the game with injuries. Blake Griffin got the start and hit five 3-pointers for a season-high 15 points, and Grant Williams scored 15 points and added eight rebounds.

In all, the Boston bench outscored Philadelphia's 31-21, with three other usual second-stringers contributing 49 points from the starting lineup. The Celtics made 19 of 35 from 3-point range.

'I could have made some of those 3s,' Rivers told reporters. 'Well, maybe not me. I was a poor shooter. But someone in this room could have made those 3s.'

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