Jaylen Brown is back in action for the Boston Celtics after a brief absence due to knee soreness, contributing 16 points in the Celtics’ 103-86 win over the Orlando Magic in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Sunday at TD Garden.
Brown, who played 31 minutes, addressed concerns about his knee injury, saying, “I felt good today. Take it one day at a time, you know? Go through my progressions, real recovery, get ready for Game 2.”
Despite the time off, Brown was able to shake off any rust in the second half, where he played a crucial role in the Celtics’ dominant 30-18 third-quarter performance. “It took me a little bit to get into the game,” Brown admitted. “But in the second half, I was able to get more involved, make some plays.”
The Celtics trailed by one at halftime but came out strong in the third quarter, powered by key performances from Derrick White and Payton Pritchard. White led the Celtics with 30 points, shooting 7-of-12 from three, while Pritchard added 19 points off the bench. The Celtics’ shooting and defensive intensity were too much for Orlando, who committed 15 turnovers, allowing Boston to capitalize on them for 24 points.
Brown reflected on the team’s mentality after halftime, stating, “In the first half, they controlled the intensity. But in the second half, we shifted that. We’ve got to have that mentality all series long—be more physical, set the tone.”
The Celtics’ defense was highlighted by Jrue Holiday’s impact on both ends of the court. Brown praised his teammate, saying, “That’s the Jrue I love. When we get that Jrue, it’s a good sign for us.” Holiday’s aggressiveness on defense, including his ability to pick up opposing players full-court and navigate through screens, was crucial in containing Orlando’s offense.
Orlando was led by Paolo Banchero, who posted a playoff career-high 36 points, but the Magic struggled with ball control and couldn’t match Boston’s intensity after the break. Franz Wagner contributed 23 points, but the team could not recover from their mistakes.
After the game, Brown remained focused on the upcoming challenge, emphasizing the importance of moving on to Game 2: “We’ve got to look forward to playing better. This Orlando team is not going to go away.”
With the win, the Celtics are now in control of the series as they aim for a second consecutive NBA title. Game 2 is set for Wednesday in Boston, where the Celtics will look to extend their lead in the series.
