Jaylen Brown expressed disappointment after the Boston Celtics suffered a painful 102-92 defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves at TD Garden. The 29-year-old took accountability for the loss and gave credit to the Wolves for their strong comeback following a closely contested game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Jaylen Brown Takes Accountability After Celtics’ Underwhelming Loss to Timberwolves
Brown and the Boston Celtics were aiming for their fifth straight win against a team sitting sixth in the Western Conference. They entered the game as the second seed in the Eastern Conference, behind the Detroit Pistons.
The Celtics have been vying for better seeding after securing a playoff spot, but inconsistency in their play on March 22 cost them a crucial win at home. They missed 24 of their 33 three-point attempts and shot just 35.8% from the field.
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The team has been dominant throughout the season but failed to deliver, especially in the final minutes. Brown, the leading scorer on Sunday night with 29 points, attacked the rim several times down the stretch but could not convert, finishing the fourth quarter scoreless.
The Minnesota Timberwolves trailed 77-76 after three quarters but turned the game around without All-Star guard Anthony Edwards. They extended their lead to 102-86 with just 1:45 remaining and ultimately secured the win.
In a postgame interview, the 2024 NBA champion didn’t mince words while admitting that the Celtics didn’t play at the desired level.
“We didn’t play Celtics basketball tonight. I was too lackadaisical with the ball.”
He further commended the Timberwolves for their speed and shorthanded play, getting more points in their tally that pressured the Boston squad quite a bit.
“Give credit to Minnesota. They went smaller, they went faster, they got more physical, and they made shots at the other end that put pressure on us. So, not a characteristic game for us.”
Brown said much of the responsibility lay with his performance down the stretch, where he needed to be more patient on possessions.
“I feel like sometimes when the game gets away from you a little bit, you want to be more aggressive and sometimes you need to be more patient. So for me personally, I could have been more patient on a lot of possessions.”
The five-time NBA All-Star, who now inspires up-and-coming players in the NBA, was not at the top of his game from the very beginning. He reached this level of excellence through hard work and inspiration from NBA legends, namely Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, and Carmelo Anthony, who are now Hall of Famers serving as analysts.
“I’m in the presence of some all-time greats. I grew up watching these guys, my game is inspired by a lot of these guys. So, to be able to have them come and talk to me and pour life and give me wisdom and advice, you can’t quantify how important and how cool that is for someone like me that’s in this stance and this position,” Brown said.
Over a career spanning a decade, the shooting guard/small forward has remained loyal to the Boston Celtics, leading them to an NBA title. He was also named the Finals MVP that year. The Boston squad will next face the No. 1 team in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder, on March 25, 2026.
