Why is Jaylen Brown not playing vs Hornets? Former NBA champion's absence for Celtics' game explored

Reigning NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown will be sidelined for Saturday's game between the Boston Celtics and the Charlotte Hornets. Per the NBA.com 4:30 p.m. ET injury report, the Celtics have Brown ruled out with what is described as a "Left Hip Flexor; Strain."

The game between the Celtics and the Hornets will be the second leg of a back-to-back for both teams, which saw them compete in Charlotte on Friday. In that game, Brown tied Jayson Tatum with a game-high 36 minutes throughout the contest.

Over 36 minutes of action, Brown scored 25 points while going 8-19 from the floor and 0-6 from downtown. In addition, he also hauled down six boards and dished out five assists while racking up a steal and a block.

With the Celtics sitting in second place in the East with a record of 5-1, coach Joe Mazzulla and his team are using tonight's game as an opportunity to give one of their star players some rest.

How did Jaylen Brown get injured?

After playing 36 minutes on Friday, it's unclear what changed between then and now to warrant Brown's absence. According to Joe Mazzulla, who spoke with reporters on Saturday morning before tip-off, the player has been dealing with a hip strain for a few days now.

Although he has been playing through the injury, he will be sidelined for tonight's game and will be listed as day-to-day despite missing tonight's game.

Looking at a potential return timeline for Jaylen Brown amid recent injury

With Jaylen Brown out for tonight's game and Joe Mazzulla considering him day-to-day, it sounds like the reigning Finals MVP will be back in action sooner rather than later.

Following Saturday's game against the Hornets, the Celtics will travel to Atlanta to face off against the Hawks on Monday before having an off day Tuesday for the US election.

From there, the team will head back home for a two-game stretch that will see them host the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday and the Brooklyn Nets on Friday to wrap up the week ahead.

With the team currently on a tear as they look to go back-to-back in the NBA Finals, Jaylen Brown's injury isn't cause for concern yet. However, with that being said, if he winds up missing considerable time this season, the Celtics' chances of winning their second straight NBA title could be jeopardized.

Of course, with the NBA season still in the early stages, how things develop in the coming weeks and months will determine whether fans should be concerned.