Jaylen Brown’s Elbow, Onyeka Okongwu’s Toughness, and a Celtics Team Searching for Answers
BOSTON - The Celtics didn’t just lose a game Wednesday night - they lost control, rhythm, and, for a moment, their composure. In a 117-106 defeat to the Hawks at TD Garden, the most jarring moment came not on the scoreboard, but on the court when Jaylen Brown’s right elbow caught Onyeka Okongwu square in the jaw.
The collision happened midway through the fourth quarter. Brown, driving aggressively like he always does, swung through and inadvertently connected with Okongwu’s face.
The result? A bloodied mouth and a missing tooth for the Hawks forward, who immediately grabbed his face and dropped to the floor in visible pain.
Despite the blow, Okongwu showed serious grit. He returned just long enough to knock down two flagrant free throws, then exited to the tunnel with 6:43 left on the clock, his night done.
After the game, Brown addressed the incident and offered a candid, empathetic response - not just as the player involved, but as someone who knows firsthand how brutal facial injuries can be.
“Just being aggressive like I always am,” Brown said. “Just a basketball play, it’s unfortunate.
Okongwu is a good player, and I know from my own experiences with a fractured face and chipped teeth - that s--- is a hassle. It wasn’t intentional, and I know it’s gonna be a long day at the dentist for him, so hopefully he has a good recovery.”
Brown’s not exaggerating. Two seasons ago, he took an elbow from Jayson Tatum that left him with a maxillary fracture and a few uncomfortable weeks in a protective mask. So when he says he gets it, he means it.
As for Okongwu, the stat sheet tells part of the story: 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting, with six boards, three assists, two steals, and a block in 28 minutes. But it’s the toughness he showed after the hit - stepping up to the line, knocking down his shots, and walking off under his own power - that stood out even more.
Later, from the trainer’s room, Okongwu kept it light, posting “Good winssss birdsss” on his Instagram story. A missing tooth, a win on the road, and a little social media swagger - that’s a pro’s night in the NBA.
But while Okongwu’s injury was the most visible damage, the Celtics took the deeper hit. Boston couldn’t get anything going offensively, especially from deep. They shot just 9-for-34 from three (a rough 26.5%), while the Hawks came out firing, hitting 18-of-42 (42.9%) from beyond the arc.
The third quarter was where things unraveled. Atlanta opened the frame with a 10-4 run in the first 4:25, stretching the lead to 20 and forcing Joe Mazzulla to burn a timeout.
It didn’t help. The Celtics closed the quarter shooting just 2-of-11 from deep, and the Garden crowd grew restless.
Brown didn’t sugarcoat it afterward.
“I give credit to Atlanta,” he said. “They just beat us up and down the floor - offense and defense.
They shot the ball really well, so give credit to them. They put a lot of pressure on us.
This is the part of the season where you have to dig deep physically and mentally, and tonight wasn’t the best example of that.”
There’s no panic in Boston - not yet. But this is the kind of game that sticks with a team.
A flat performance at home, a physical altercation, and a reminder that the grind of the season doesn’t let up. The Celtics will look to regroup quickly, because games like this - especially ones where the other team brings more energy - can’t become a habit.
As for Okongwu, Hawks coach Quin Snyder summed it up with a bit of dry humor and admiration for his big man’s toughness.
“He’s tough,” Snyder said. “He took quite a shot, and it’s a good thing that dentistry is a profession.
I don’t know what he’s gonna need, but he’s pretty banged up. I told him he’s still handsome.
But it’s a good thing that people can repair his teeth because he’s going to need some work.”
Toughness, execution, and a hot hand from deep - Atlanta brought all three. Boston, on the other hand, left the building with more questions than answers.