Jaylen Brown Returns to Power Celtics Past Magic
The Boston Celtics got exactly the boost they needed as Jaylen Brown was officially cleared to play, just hours before the must-win Game 5 against the Orlando Magic. After being listed as questionable with a nagging right knee — specifically a posterior impingement and a bone bruise — Brown’s surprise upgrade to "available" was the big news swirling around TD Garden ahead of tip-off on April 29, 2025.
Brown, who’s been dealing with pain behind his right knee for weeks, had been relying on pre-playoff injections just to get through practices and shootarounds. It’s the kind of injury that can flair up at any moment, and plenty of Celtics fans held their breath when Brown was limited to just 18 minutes in the first half. But something seemed to change during halftime. Brown came out looking much more like the All-Star he’s supposed to be, dropping 23 points on a smooth 9-of-18 shooting clip. He was aggressive, driving into traffic and rising up for step-backs. Every make sent the crowd into a frenzy, especially since the Celtics already seemed to be clicking on both ends.
Celtics Cruise, Eye Next Opponent as Rest Looms
Behind Brown’s resurgence — and another monster game from Jayson Tatum, who poured in 35 points to go with ten assists and eight boards — Boston ripped through Orlando’s defense, finishing off a lopsided 120-89 blowout to clinch their spot in the NBA playoffs Eastern Conference semifinals.
The win meant the Celtics closed out the series 4-1 and could look ahead to scouting the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons, who are still slugging it out in their own first-round marathon. That series is guaranteed to stretch out, with their Game 6 locked in for April 30. For the Celtics, this delay is a blessing in disguise. Brown’s knee needs every bit of extra rest it can get, especially after he admitted postgame that it’s still far from 100%. He has a chance to rehab, get more treatment, and hopefully be closer to his best for the semis.
One cloud still hangs over the locker room, though: Jrue Holiday didn’t suit up. The veteran guard’s right hamstring strain has kept him off the floor, and there’s no firm timeline for his return. The Celtics’ depth certainly takes a hit without Holiday’s defense and savvy ball-handling, so there’s plenty of monitoring ahead for his recovery as well.
Still, with Tatum in MVP mode and Brown showing flashes of his old explosiveness, Boston heads into the next round confident — and grateful for the breather before the next big test.