Jaylen Brown gets real about leading Celtics win without Jayson Tatum: “I can rise to the occasion”

Celtics star man Jaylen Brown issues a clear warning to his oppositions after his recent performance against the Magic in Game 2.

Jaylen Brown gets real about leading Celtics win without Jayson Tatum: “I can rise to the occasion”

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown

No Jayson Tatum, no problem for the Boston Celtics, who saw out a smooth win against the Orlando Magic in Game 2. They have now the lead (2-0) in their playoff series. In Tatum’s absence, it was their other star, Jaylen Brown, who stepped up for the Celtics. Brown and Tatum have been one of the best offensive duos in the league over the past few years.

Hence, it is given that with one player missing between the two, the other will likely step up; that’s exactly what Brown did. With Jayson Tatum (wrist) sitting out, the four-time All-Star finished with 36 points (12-19 FG, 5-7 3 PT), 10 rebounds, five assists, and one steal in 42 minutes. Not only that, Brown also made his feelings clear regarding Tatum’s absence, sending out a strong message to his rivals.

No different. Obviously, JT is the offensive leader of our team. We all kind of play off of him. But on any given night, I can rise to the occasion. I just do what the team needs me to do.

Jaylen Brown told the reporters

Brown scored 37 points when he played the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 28. This was his highest-scoring performance since then. During the regular season, the 28-year-old produced 22.2 points on 46.3 percent shooting (32.4 percent 3 PT), 5.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. This also releases much pressure on the Celtics regarding Tatum’s absence on the court.

There were other Celtics who had a warrior attitude besides Brown. For this victory, Kristaps Porzingis gave it his all on the court, including a significant amount of blood loss. For the second time in three weeks, KP sustained a cut on his forehead after taking a shot to his face in the third quarter. He had it bandaged and resumed play immediately.

He dropped 20 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks, and two steals on the Magic in his side’s win alongside Brown’s monumental performance. The Celtics needed every player to step up and perform their duties as Tatum remains absent from their side. Brown set the example for each player by playing with a “whatever it takes” mentality.

Celtics HC Joe Mazzulla chimed in on his star Jaylen Brown’s monumental performance

For the Celtics to go all the way this season, they will need all their players to step up. On Wednesday, it was Jaylen Brown who showcased his ‘warrior mentality’ against the Magic in Game 2. It was something that his HC, Joe Mazzulla, has repeatedly asked from the players. After the game, Mazzulla heaped huge praise on Brown’s performance.

He’s been great and consistent throughout the season…You just trust the mindset and that warrior mentality he has…He can take it to another level mentally and physically, He’s willing to do whatever it takes to win…I think the guys fed off that.

Joe Mazzulla told the reporters

Derrick White (17 points), Jrue Holiday (11), and Kristaps Porzingis (20 points) were all effective, as the Celtics nearly had every player in the starting lineup score in double figures. Al Horford scored nine points, just missing the mark of double digits. This showcases the mentality Brown and Mazzulla recently spoke about during their post-match pressers.

Jaylen Brown made Celtics history after Game 2 against the Magic

Jaylen Brown led the Celtics’ attack against one of the best defensive teams during the regular season in the Orlando Magic. Brown was on another level in Game 2, recording a whopping 35 points on 12-of-19 overall shooting and 5-of-7 from 3-point range. Notably, with this statline, Brown also made Celtics history.

Jaylen Brown tonight became the fifth Celtic to record at least 35 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in a playoff game, joining Larry Bird (9X), Jayson Tatum (4X), John Havlicek (3X), and Paul Pierce (2X).

Per the Celtics stats on X

This showcases Brown’s impact on the Celtics over the years in the league. Alongside Tatum, Brown has been one of the main players for the franchise. In addition, last year, with averages of 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, he was voted the MVP of the NBA Finals.