The Boston Celtics have remained one of the more surprising teams in the Eastern Conference this season, a stretch fueled largely by Jaylen Brown’s expanded role in Jayson Tatum’s absence. With Tatum sidelined due to a season-ending Achilles injury, Brown has taken on the responsibility of leading Boston on both ends of the floor.
Brown is averaging 29.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5 assists per game while shooting 50% from the field and 36.5% from 3-point range. He has delivered nine 30-point performances over his last 10 games, helping the Celtics stay competitive and climb to a 17–11 record despite major lineup challenges.
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Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (7) in action.Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images
Amid the impressive run, the Celtics faced a tough test without Brown when they traveled to face the Toronto Raptors on Saturday. Without the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, however, Boston continued its strong run, defeating the Raptors 112-96. Payton Pritchard led the way in Brown’s absence, finishing with 33 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds in one of his most complete performances of the season.
Entering Monday’s game against the Indiana Pacers, Brown’s status was again the big talking point. He had been listed as questionable while recovering from an illness in the team’s earlier report. However, following Monday’s shootaround, the Celtics announced that Brown has been cleared to play.
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Brown’s return provides a significant boost as the Celtics look to extend their win streak to three games. Boston holds the third-best record in the Eastern Conference and has won seven of its last 10 games, including impressive wins against the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Lakers.
With the Celtics continuing to navigate life without Tatum, Brown’s availability remains central to their ability to stay competitive as the season progresses. Tip-off for the game against Indiana is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, with live coverage on FanDuel Sports Network.
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Related: Celtics React to NBA’s Jaylen Brown Announcement on Monday
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 22, 2025, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.