Jaylen Brown Dominates In Game 2 Performance

Jaylen Brown had a dominant performance, leading the Boston Celtics to a 109-100 victory. Brown scored 36 points on 12-of-19 shooting, including 5-of-7 from three. He also had 10 rebounds and 5 assists. Brown stepped up in a game where Jayson Tatum was sidelined with a wrist injury. He has been dealing with his injury concerns but looked better than ever in this game. His shot-making was efficient, his athleticism was in top form, and his defense was persistent. His efforts helped the Celtics take a 2-0 series lead over the Orlando Magic.

Jaylen Brown’s Performance

Much of Brown’s ups and downs this season have depended on his shot-making. He has dealt with shooting and injury struggles throughout the regular season. This season, he shot 46% from the field and 32% from three, which is down from 50% and 35% last season. In Game 2, he shot 12-of-19 from the field and 5-of-7 from three. His three-point shooting was especially efficient. Brown knocked down a dagger three-pointer from the corner that helped seal the win for Boston. When his three-point shots are falling, he is a much better player, and his three-point shots were falling in Game 2.

Beyond the three-pointers, he hit many clutch two-point shots and buckets in the paint. In the fourth quarter, Brown converted back-to-back baskets when the Magic were making things close. Brown got a tough layup to fall through contact, and on the following possession, he hit a high-arching shot over Paolo Banchero. His scoring was elite and efficient the entire game, and the Celtics’ offense needed it.

Many of Boston’s best players are beneficiaries of Tatum’s excellent playmaking, so without Tatum, many players were worse off. But JB gave the team a spark in one of his best performances of the season.

Athleticism Returning

Another aspect of his performance was his athleticism returning to form. Brown has had injury problems this year and missed the Celtics’ last few regular-season games with a knee injury. Even when he wasn’t missing time, the knee injury slowed him down significantly. He looked slow and hobbled, and for a player like Brown, who relies on bounce and getting to the rim, it was a troubling sight to see. Before the NBA Playoffs began, Brown received injections in his knee, making fans even more skeptical about his health. In Game 1, his performance was uneventful, scoring 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting.

However, his athleticism returned in Game 2. He was fearless, attacking the basket and playing aggressive defense. In the third quarter, he took over, leading the Celtics on a run to extend their lead, which they held onto for the rest of the game. Brown got a steal and ran the floor, throwing down an emphatic dunk to the roar of the Boston crowd.

If he can maintain this athleticism, it will go a long way for the defending champions. Especially considering Tatum’s injury, and a bone bruise in his right wrist, the Celtics will need Brown to be back in full form, not only for Game 2 but for the remainder of the playoffs.

Final Thoughts

At his best, Brown is a top player on the Celtics. While he does not have the playmaking impact of Tatum, his physicality and his drive can have huge effects, as they did in Game 2. Brown’s 36-point performance was a trademark game. He got to his spots, he made plays on defense, he showed off his athleticism, and his shot-making was efficient. Last season, he had an excellent playoff run, winning the NBA Finals MVP. If he continues to play well, it will greatly benefit another deep playoff run for the Celtics.