The Boston Celtics have owned the season to this point, building up a ton of wins, blasting through offenses, and unequivocally proving to be the team to beat in the East. But tonight? Something feels off. Or more to the point, someone is missing. One of Boston’s key weapons on both ends of the floor, Jaylen Brown, will not be suited up, according to latest reports. Now if you were looking for him to drop 25 and shut down Utah’s best scorer, you are out of luck.
Now come the big questions. What’s up with Brown? How long is he going to be out? And what does this mean for the Celtics as they inch closer to the playoffs? Let’s get into it all.
Brown is dealing with a bone bruise and posterior impingement in his right knee. Sounds unpleasant, right? Basically, his knee isn’t in the best shape, and the Celtics aren’t about to take any risks with one of their top guys. He already missed Boston’s last game, and now the team is keeping him out for at least two more before they check back in on March 24. They’re playing it safe, which, honestly, is the right move considering the stretch of the season left. The last thing they need is for Brown to push through it and end up with something way worse right before the playoffs. And he is surely a lynchpin in the Boston roster.
Jaylen Brown (knee) out at least 2 more games.
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) March 22, 2025
Up until this point, he’s been rock solid. Brown has played in 56 of Boston’s 69 games, putting up 22.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and a career-high 4.7 assists per game. He’s been a two-way force, doing a little bit of everything—scoring, defending, setting up teammates—and without him, there’s no doubt this team is going to feel the impact.
How the Celtics will adjust without Brown
So now what? With Brown out, the Celtics will have to lean even harder on Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, and Jrue Holiday to carry the load. Not that they aren’t used to that, but it definitely adds some extra pressure. Expect guys like Sam Hauser and Baylor Scheierman to get more playing minutes, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But let’s be real—there’s no true replacement for what Brown brings to the table.
That said, Boston has been an absolute machine this season. They’re sitting at 50-19, riding a three-game winning streak, and have been handling just about every team in their way. Meanwhile, the Jazz? Let’s just say they’re having a very different kind of season. At 16-54, they’re dead last in the Western Conference and basically just trying to make it to the finish line. On paper, this should be a routine win for Boston. But we’ve seen it before—just when you think a game is a sure thing, something weird happens.
Feb 23, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) passes the ball on an alley oop attempt to forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the second half against the New York Knicks at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
The Celtics have proven all year that they can handle injuries, but missing Brown this late in the season is something to keep an eye on. The playoffs are creeping closer, and every game matters, even against a struggling team like Utah. Tonight’s game might not be a “must-win,” but it’s a chance to see how they hold up without one of their best players.
And for Brown? March 24 is the big date. Will he be ready, or is this knee issue going to stick around longer than anyone wants? Celtics fans are hoping for the best, but for now, all they can do is wait.
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