The Boston Celtics have been one of the more intriguing storylines of the 2025-26 NBA season - not because they entered as title favorites, but because they’ve been grinding out wins without their franchise cornerstone, Jayson Tatum. With Tatum sidelined due to a torn Achilles suffered in last year’s playoffs, Jaylen Brown has stepped into the spotlight, and for the most part, he’s delivered.
Since early December, Boston has quietly put together one of the league’s better records, climbing to 29-18 behind Brown’s leadership. But Wednesday night at TD Garden was a reminder that even with momentum on their side, this Celtics team still has some growing pains to work through. Boston fell 117-106 to the Atlanta Hawks in a game that exposed some of their lingering flaws - particularly on the defensive end.
After the game, Brown didn’t sugarcoat things.
“We just didn't have it tonight,” he said, a blunt assessment that matched the Celtics’ flat first-quarter performance, where they gave up 38 points and quickly found themselves in a 20-point hole.
The game had its physical moments, too. Brown collided with Hawks big man Onyeka Okongwu during the action, and while it was an accidental clash, Brown spoke from experience when discussing the aftermath.
“I know from my own experiences with a fractured face and chipped teeth that shit is a hassle. So, wasn't intentional,” Brown said.
“I know it’s gonna be a long day at the dentist. Hopefully, he has a good recovery.”
Despite the loss, the Celtics weren’t without a few positives. They dominated the boards, out-rebounding Atlanta 51-38, and shot a respectable 81% from the free-throw line. But those numbers couldn’t mask the larger issues - namely, ball movement and perimeter defense.
Jaylen Brown on his collision with Onyeka Okongwu:
— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) January 29, 2026
“I know from my own experiences with a fractured face and chipped teeth that shit is a hassle. So, wasn't intentional. I know it’s gonna be a long day at the dentist. Hopefully he has a good recovery.” pic.twitter.com/SVss0gt6sd
Boston managed just 21 assists on 42 made shots and turned the ball over 16 times - a combination that made it difficult to keep pace with an Atlanta team that was firing on all cylinders. The Hawks were crisp, racking up 29 assists on 45 made field goals and hitting 18 of their 42 three-point attempts (43%). That kind of offensive rhythm from the opponent has been a recurring problem for Boston when their defense doesn’t set the tone early.
Individually, Brown continued to carry the load. He poured in a team-high 21 points on 9-of-20 shooting, along with seven rebounds, three assists, and a block.
It wasn’t a flashy stat line, but it was another example of the consistency he’s brought to the table this season. With Tatum out, Brown has elevated his game across the board, averaging 29.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per night - all career highs.
The Celtics are still very much in the playoff mix, and with Brown playing at an All-NBA level, they’ve got a legitimate shot to make noise. But if they’re going to be more than just a feel-good story, they’ll need to tighten up defensively and find more offensive cohesion. Nights like this one against Atlanta serve as a reminder: without Tatum, the margin for error is razor-thin.