Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics continue to surprise as we near the end of the 2025-26 NBA season. After a 113-102 win over LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday, the Celtics improved to 54-25 on the season, currently holding the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Now, they get ready for an important matchup on Thursday, facing Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks.
In what was supposed to be a gap year for Boston, with Jayson Tatum missing most of the season after tearing his Achilles in the 2025 playoffs, Brown has kept the Celtics in title contention. The former California Golden Bears guard is having the best season of his career at the age of 29, averaging career highs of 28.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game.
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While Brown has played in 70 of Boston’s 79 games this season, he was recently forced to miss two consecutive games in late March against the Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets due to Achilles tendinitis. The absence was likely precautionary, with the playoffs right around the corner.
But on Wednesday, one day before the Celtics take on the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, Brown was once again listed as questionable with the same issue. This is likely a precautionary move by Boston, with just three games remaining before the NBA playoffs, even as the Knicks (51-28) remain within reach in the standings. The Celtics will also face Jordan Poole and the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday in the second game of a back-to-back.
Along with Brown, the Celtics have also ruled forward Sam Hauser (low back spasm), center Neemias Queta (right toe sprain) and guard Derrick White (right knee contusion) as questionable against New York.
"Injury Report for tomorrow at NYK: Jaylen Brown - Left Achilles Tendinitis - QUESTIONABLE. Sam Hauser - Low Back Spasm - QUESTIONABLE. Neemias Queta - Right Toe Sprain - QUESTIONABLE. Derrick White - Right Knee Contusion - QUESTIONABLE," the Celtics wrote on X.
The Celtics will take on the Knicks on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
