Jaylen Brown got pain shots in his knee as Celtics prep for playoff run
Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown received pain management injections in his right knee this week, league sources told ESPN’s Romanda Shelburne on Saturday.
The shots are meant to help speed up healing before the playoffs begin.
Brown, 28, has been battling a nagging bone bruise in his knee throughout the season. The pain has gotten worse lately, forcing him to limit his minutes and miss games.
The four-time All-Star played just 22 minutes in Tuesday’s nail-biting 119-117 overtime win against the Knicks.
He then sat out Thursday’s game against Orlando, a rough 96-76 loss for the Celtics.
That absence was particularly costly for Brown personally. By missing the game, he failed to reach the NBA’s 65-game requirement to be eligible for postseason awards.
## Playoff Return Expected
The good news? Brown should be ready when the playoffs kick off.
He’s expected back for the Celtics’ first-round series that begins either April 19 or 20. If he sits out Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Hornets, he’ll get at least 10 full days of rest between games.
That’s a significant recovery window for the defending Finals MVP.
The knee issues have been officially documented since March 2, with Brown missing eight games since then, including a three-game stretch from March 18-23.
“I’m in some pain,” Brown admitted to reporters after Boston’s loss to Miami on April 2. He’s been “finding ways to push through it” despite the discomfort.
## Teammates Urge Caution
Kristaps Porzingis has been vocal about wanting Brown to prioritize his health before the playoffs begin.
“He’s a tough dude,” Porzingis said after the Knicks game. “He always preaches his warrior mindset. He lives by it. But to what extent do we need that right now?”
Porzingis didn’t mince words about what he thinks is best for the team.
“Maybe he needs to take care of it and make sure he’s going to be ready for the most important moment,” he added. “I think we need to encourage him to make sure he does everything he needs to prepare to get it healthy and to prepare for what’s going to come.”
## Still Producing Despite Injury
Even with the knee issues, Brown is having a strong season.
In 63 games (all starts), he’s averaging 22.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and a career-high 4.5 assists per game. He’s also contributing 1.2 steals while shooting 46.3% from the field.
His three-point shooting has dipped to 32.4%, possibly affected by the knee problem.
Brown hasn’t played more than 30 minutes in a game since facing Oklahoma City on March 12 – another sign the team is managing his workload carefully.
The Celtics have already locked up the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. They’ll face either the Atlanta Hawks or Orlando Magic in the first round, depending on who wins their play-in tournament matchup.
