Jaylen Brown scored 31 points, including 14 in a pivotal third quarter, as the Boston Celtics rallied to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 119-109 at TD Garden on Wednesday. In the postgame press conference, Brown shared his perspective on the team’s slow start and eventual turnaround.
“I think we just had to weather the storm. We just didn’t make shots in the first quarter. I feel like we got wide open looks,” Brown said. “Sam got what, five or six wide open threes and those are usually bottom of the net, but you know, he didn’t make them. So we just encouraged them to keep playing, but we felt like offensively we were doing what we needed to do.”
Brown also addressed his success at drawing fouls against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, noting, “Well, yeah, he got me last time we played him, he got me on the up fake and like I knew it was coming and I still jump for it. I guess that was a little payback.” He added, “I feel like I’ve played the same style, but maybe complaining has given a little bit more notoriety to how the game is officiated and I feel like I’ve gotten more calls. I thought the officials did a good job tonight.”
The Celtics’ offense was efficient when they owned their space, Brown explained. “They’re very physical. If you don’t come, if you don’t own your space, if you don’t fight to get open, if you don’t set up your catches, none of that stuff, they can make it a long night. But I thought we did a good job of keeping our man between the ball and the basket, protecting it, getting the ball where we wanted to get the ball, initiating our offense where we wanted to initiate it versus them dictating where we go.”
Brown praised Jayson Tatum’s contribution in the win. “I think today was a great game of him making the right plays, making the right reads, being physical, and being Jayson Tatum. And I think it’s a step in the right direction.”
He emphasized the significance of defeating a team with the NBA’s best record. “Yeah, it feels good. This team has just been awesome all year. Our guys have really developed trying to find a rhythm, trying to find confidence to really compete against some of the best teams in the league. I thought we got a lot of great contributions from everybody.”
On the psychological boost from the win, Brown said, “That was a well-needed win. We know we could play with anybody, but when you get a win on your home floor against the team that has the best record in the league now, it feels good.”
Brown also addressed a dunk attempt on Jalen Williams that he stopped mid-celebration. “The most important thing is that I didn’t do it. The people know what it is,” he said.
Boston’s edge in second-chance points and aggressive free-throw attempts proved decisive against a Thunder squad that entered the game on a 12-game win streak.
