It was supposed to be a routine game for the Boston Celtics at TD Garden, but it turned into a shocker. The Celtics suffered a 124-103 loss to the current No. 9 seed Miami Heat on Wednesday night.
While the defeat was disappointing, there was a silver lining. Jaylen Brown, who sat out the previous game against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 31, returned to the court and scored 24 points. After the game, Brown addressed his lingering knee injury and gave an important update just weeks before the playoffs.
Jaylen Brown Gives Update on His Injury
Speaking to the media postgame, Brown acknowledged that he was in discomfort during the game but still grabbed nine rebounds and handed out four assists.
“I was in some pain today. But you know, just pushing through it, trying to find ways to still be aggressive and add value to the team and stuff like that. Just something I gotta work through and manage,” he said.
The shooting guard also told fans he has some treatments lined up with the medical staff to get better before the playoffs. Despite the loss, Brown saw the game as a step forward in his recovery and a chance to get back into rhythm.
“I’ve had to come to grips that every night, I’m not gonna feel like my normal self. But that doesn’t mean I still can’t make plays and things like that. So it’s just something that we are working through.
“Today was a good step forward. I’ve got some stuff lined up with the medical staff in order to feel better come playoffs. But for now, you know, just mentally working through not feeling great, but still able to find ways to be effective,” added Brown during the postgame interview.
Brown has dealt with several minor injuries throughout the season. Earlier in the year, he had a hip flexor strain that required an MRI and briefly sidelined him. His current knee issue has been another setback, causing him to miss over a week of action.
Brown has missed six of the Celtics’ last 13 games. Managing these injuries will be crucial for him to be at full strength when the playoffs start.
Even with the knee issues, Brown continues to be one of Boston’s most consistent players. This season, he’s averaging 22.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game.
With just six games left in the regular season, the Celtics are all but locked into the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Still, the road ahead won’t be easy, but Brown’s effort to push through the knee discomfort shows his leadership.
Yet, it still leaves one big question.
Will Brown Get Fit To Play in the Playoffs?
Brown had a strong performance against the Heat, scoring 24 points and pulling down nine rebounds. His effort showed promise, but it’s clear he’s still not at full strength. However, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla gave fans some reassurance, saying Brown looked good against Miami.
“I thought he was good. He’s getting his feet under him… To me, he continues to look better and better each night and much more comfortable out there. So that was a positive for us and good to see. We’ve just got to continue to get that,” said Mazzulla during the postgame interview.
One big factor that could push Brown to return to full strength fast is his eligibility for an All-NBA spot. To qualify, he needs to play in at least five of the Celtics’ remaining six games. That could give him extra motivation to speed up his recovery and get back to his best before the playoffs. But in the end, only time will tell if he gets there.