Celtics forward Jae Crowder will return to the starting lineup Thursday night against the Portland Trail Blazers, according to coach Brad Stevens.
Crowder, sidelined since Feb. 10 with a high ankle sprain, had missed Boston's last eight games. He returned to practice Wednesday and, after experiencing no setbacks from the increased activity, deemed himself fit to return to game action.
Stevens told reporters in Portland that he does not believe Crowder will be on a minutes restriction, then joked he wasn't going to ask the training staff. Earlier in the day, both Stevens and Crowder hinted at shootaround that, by playing in Thursday's game, Crowder was unlikely to play in the tail end of a back-to-back Friday at Golden State Warriors.