The Boston Celtics’ success this season was among the most shocking developments of the year. Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury in the postseason made it seem like a foregone conclusion that the team would have to be patient for a year.
But a rise to superstardom from Jaylen Brown, which is earning him MVP buzz, has made them a legitimate contender, especially with Tatum coming back way earlier than anticipated. Unfortunately, bad news may strike at the worst time for them, this time in the form of an injury to Brown.
Jaylen Brown Injury Update: Celtics Star Dealing With Calf Tightness
Moving on from Al Horford and trading Kristaps Porziņģis in the offseason made it feel even more certain that the Celtics were willing to wait for Tatum’s recovery to retake their spot near the top of the Eastern Conference.
But an excellent coaching job by Joe Mazzulla, which allowed their role players and depth to shine, helped Boston reach a 48-24 record, good for the second seed in the East. However, the center of their entire operation was Brown.
While he’d already earned a Finals MVP in his career, he was clearly seen as the second fiddle to the six-time All-Star. That narrative may have changed this year, as Brown has exploded for a career-high 28.6 points per game on an efficient 47.7% from the field.
As the lone superstar on the team, he’s been key to their success and has earned legitimate consideration as an MVP candidate. His latest masterpiece came in a 119-109 victory over the reigning NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, as he put up 31 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists.
But his status for the game against the Atlanta Hawks is listed as questionable, at least for now. Beat writer Noa Dalzell was quick to report that Brown was suffering from tightness in his left calf.
After Brown logged at least 35 minutes in his last five games, the Celtics might have been trying to give him a maintenance day for his calf. Already at 65 games played on the season, he is eligible for all honors and awards associated with the season.
However, the Celtics may aim even higher in the season’s final stretch. With Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham essentially guaranteed to miss the rest of the regular season with a collapsed lung, the Celtics could try to make a late-season push to take over the one-seed in the East.
