Jaylen Brown didn’t want to make much of the pregame moment with Jayson Tatum, and after the final buzzer he kept that same tone.
Before Tuesday’s tip-off, the two former Celtics teammates had an awkward-looking exchange, but Brown brushed it off afterward and said he was locked in on his own job. The night itself, though, belonged to Tatum and the Celtics, who cruised past the 76ers 123-101 while Brown had a rough outing.
Brown said he “wasn’t paying attention” when Tatum came over and wrapped his arms around him shortly before the game.
“I’m just focused on doing what’s best for my team,” Brown said. “Everything else is just ... to be honest, I wasn’t paying attention.”
Even with the uncomfortable moment hanging in the air, Brown didn’t bite when asked about it after the loss. Instead, he gave Tatum his due.
“Credit to Jayson. He played well tonight,” Brown said. “Credit to the Celtics.”
Tatum wasn’t the main engine for Boston, either. He finished with 21 points on 8-of-17 shooting, a number that was overshadowed by Paul George’s 36-point night.
But Tatum still clearly outplayed Brown, who didn’t get into double figures until late in the fourth quarter and ended with 13 points on 4-of-9 shooting. Brown also finished a team-worst -27.
Brown said afterward that he was “frustrated” with how he played.
“I wanted to perform better for my team,” Brown said. “Foul trouble kind of derailed me a little bit, but you know, it happens.”
Joel Embiid, LeBron James and VJ Edgecombe also had quiet offensive nights, so Brown wasn’t the only one who struggled. Still, the gap between Brown’s difficult performance and George’s big night stood out sharply after the two were traded for each other in the summer.
In Other News...
Jaylen Brown Trade Debate Just Got Real For Celtics Fans
Jaylen Browns move to Philadelphia has quickly become one of those deals Celtics fans cant help but revisit, especially with both sides getting what they hoped for early on. Brown has settled in well with the 76ers, putting up strong production that is right in line with, and in some areas a touch above, what he had been doing in Boston, while Paul George has also looked comfortable in his new setting after the swap.
What makes the debate linger is that neither player has looked like a clear loser in the exchange. Brown has been handling a heavier workload, and George has brought the kind of defensive impact that can change a game without dominating the scoring column. For Celtics fans, the trade is no longer just a hypothetical front-office exercise. It is a live comparison, and one that still feels like it could tilt in either direction as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Neemias Queta Is Giving The Celtics A Weapon Few Fans Saw Coming
Neemias Queta has quietly become one of the more useful moving parts in Bostons offense this season, even if his minutes have not always reflected it. His value has come less from traditional box-score production and more from the little things that keep possessions alive, especially the flare screens and off-ball movement that help open space for teammates. For a Celtics group that leans so heavily on spacing and timing, Queta has given the attack a different look without needing the ball in his hands for long.
What makes the development more interesting is how much his own game has grown alongside that role. Queta has shown more willingness to step out and shoot from deep, while also finishing better around the rim, which gives Boston a more versatile option when it wants to play through size without sacrificing movement. The sample is still relatively small, but the Celtics have clearly found a frontcourt wrinkle that changes the feel of their offense whenever he is on the floor. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers-Celtics Just Got More Personal With The East Already At Stake
The Celtics next trip to Philadelphia already had plenty riding on it, with two Eastern Conference contenders meeting Tuesday night and the standings picture making every game feel a little sharper this time of year. Add Kyrie Irving into the mix, and the matchup gets another layer of history, since he spent time in Boston alongside Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown before moving on to Dallas.
What makes this one stand out from the usual early-season measuring stick is the personal thread running through it. Irving sounded eager to watch it unfold, and the game will also bring Tatum and Brown into a new kind of spotlight as they face a former teammate in a setting that carries real conference weight. For a Celtics team trying to keep pace at the top of the East, it is the kind of night that feels bigger than the schedule line suggests. [Read more 🡒]