Bradley’s not on trip

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Avery Bradley, upon further review, will most likely remain back home getting treatment on his strained Achilles tendon instead of traveling with the team on a four-city road trip that begins tonight against the Sacramento Kings. According to coach Brad

Stevens, the continued soreness in the guard’s right foot makes it unlikely he’ll play before the upcoming AllStar break, if only because of limited opportunities to work back into game shape.

“If he comes back before the All-Star break, it might be a surprise now, just because by the time we get back in Boston we don’t have a practice,” Stevens said before last night’s practice at the Kings’ new downtown arena. “I’m guessing that would be part of it, but I’m not on the medical staff. If they want to fly him to Dallas (next weekend) for practice and get a warmup in before the game, maybe he does play next week. But I would think it’s unlikely.”

Bradley has missed 15 games with the injury, including four before he attempted a premature comeback. The medical staff is now advising extreme caution because the injury involves the Achilles — always cause for extra concern. But Stevens continues to stress that Bradley has not suffered the kind of damage that requires surgery.

“Avery went through more evaluation (Monday). He’s been able to progress, and he’s had a couple of moments where it’s two steps forward and a step back,” Stevens said. “Still structurally all good. The MRIs and scans have all looked good, and obviously it’s a strain. It’s going to be a progression to get back. Our doctor met with him (Monday night) and our training staff, and made the call to keep him back. I originally thought he was coming on this trip . . . so it was a last-minute call.”

IT’s down with TB

Isaiah Thomas, who is now in regular communication with Tom Brady since meeting the Patriots quarterback last summer during the C’s pursuit of then-free agent

Kevin Durant, received an interesting bit of encouragement from Brady on Monday.

“I texted Brady, and right after that he texted me, said it’s not over ’til it’s over, and he’s just proud of his teammates — that’s what he texted me,” Thomas said. “Nobody gave up and they just kept fighting. It’s your turn next, that’s what he texted back. Now he’s putting the pressure on us, but I hope we can make something happen.”

Friends and teammates have kidded Thomas this week that in leading the Patriots on to the biggest comeback in NFL history, Brady was taking a page out of his fourth-quarter playbook. Thomas laughed.

“People keep talking about it, like he took a page from my book, but I need to take a page from his – he’s got five rings,” Thomas said. “He’s the greatest quarterback/ football player there’s ever been. I was speechless, what they did to turn that around, and in the Super Bowl.”

Cousins suspended

Though a segment of Celtics Nation continues to hope team president Danny Ainge somehow works a deal for

DeMarcus Cousins by the NBA’s Feb. 19 trade deadline, the excitable Sacramento Kings center continues to scare the rest of the league with his behavior.

Cousins guaranteed the C’s won’t have to worry about facing him by drawing his league-leading 16th technical foul while being ejected from Monday night’s game against the Chicago Bulls.

The result, as announced by the league yesterday, was a mandatory one-game suspension for reaching the NBA’s technical foul ceiling in lightning-fast, pre-All-Star break fashion.

Cousins was drawn into a midcourt scrum that also included teammate Matt

Barnes, and he crossed the line when he made contact with Bulls assistant coach

Jim Boylan, who appeared to be acting as a peacemaker. The second “T” came after Cousins complained about a non-call on a 3-point attempt.

The suspension carries a $25,000 fine and cuts the Celtics a huge break, in that they won’t have to face a player who is generally considered the best big man in the league.

Jerebko nose best

Jonas Jerebko, who tweeted a picture of his face — complete with two black eyes and a broken nose — is waiting for the arrival of a specialized protective mask

he can wear in tonight’s game. He suffered the injury late in Sunday’s win at the Garden against the Clippers in a collision with the right shoulder of teammate Jaylen Brown.

“There was a lot of blood coming out of my nose, and I was thinking about getting back into the play until I felt I barely had a nose left,” Jerebko said. “That’s why I was staggered. My consciousness was fine.”