Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Keys Game 2 Win vs. Pacers as Fans Praise SG amid All-NBA Snub

Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVMay 24, 2024

Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

Jaylen Brown was one of the players who arguably was snubbed from an All-NBA selection on Wednesday. And it appears he took that personally.

Brown was electric on Thursday, putting up 40 points and four rebounds in the Boston Celtics’ 126-110 win over the Indiana Pacers. The victory gave Boston a 2-0 advantage in the Eastern Conference Finals.

NBA @NBAJaylen Brown (24 PTS) showcased his ELITE SCORING ability in the 1st half of Game 2 of the East Finals ☘️

BOS leads 57-51 entering the 3Q on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/fQaa07NxA3

NBA @NBAJAYLEN BROWN AND-1 💪☘️

BOS seeks a 2-0 series lead in the 3Q of the East Finals on ESPN pic.twitter.com/r4prtGkZS2

Brown’s scoring was important in Game 2, as All-NBA first-team selection Jayson Tatum started slowly before picking up the pace in the second half, finishing with 23 points, six boards and five assists.

All-NBA third-team pick, Tyrese Haliburton, had another fairly nondescript game for Indiana before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with left hamstring soreness, finishing with 10 points and eight assists. The Pacers were led by Pascal Siakam (28 points), who kept them in the contest until Boston pulled away for good in the fourth.

It was Brown who seemed to have an answer for just about every run the Pacers made, and NBA fans and pundits alike suspected that Brown had a bit of extra motivation fueling him:

brad auerbach @CelticsPostjaylen brown after he found out he’s not all nba after destroying the entire nba pic.twitter.com/ujOhtGXbcm

Dan Kelley @DanKelley66Feels like Jaylen Brown might’ve taken being left off the All-NBA team personally. #DifferentHere pic.twitter.com/6XiOUJwNAY

Bobby Marks @BobbyMarks42Can we get a recount on All-NBA for Jaylen Brown?

Casey Baker @_CaseyBakerAll-NBA snub Jaylen Brown might just be the best player of all time

Mike Kennedy @MikeKennedyNFLJaylen Brown, even while playing banged up, already has 23 points with two minutes until halftime… and he has just one turnover.

A day after bafflingly being left off the All-NBA team.

Making a statement for sure.

Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannixJaylen Brown is a three-time All-Star with a $300 million contract but there’s absolutely no doubt he used the All-NBA slight to fire him up for Game 2. Brown up to 23 points.

Hardwood Paroxysm @HPbasketballJaylen Brown has been unbelievable this season and in this game.

Kevin O’Connor @KevinOConnorNBAJaylen Brown is doing it all. One hell of a performance.

Aj Diggs @Jigga2calJaylen Brown has been the Cs best player

Young Ol’ Head @sirdqknew jaylen brown was gonna have a bounce back game but damn

It wasn’t just fans and analysts who were a bit surprised Brown didn’t crack the All-NBA teams.

“JB, that was a snub for sure,” Celtics guard Payton Pritchard told reporters earlier on Thursday. “I don’t understand how you can be the No. 1 team by a wide margin and only have one dude on that. JB’s been terrific all year, two-way player, so he definitely deserves to be on there.”

Head coach Joe Mazzulla expected Brown to take the situation in stride, however:

Celtics on NBC Sports Boston @NBCSCeltics”He knows what’s important and what’s not.”

Joe Mazzulla on Jaylen Brown being snubbed for All-NBA pic.twitter.com/L9hglRM68e

“He’s a very mature guy… He has a great outlook on life,” he said. “He knows what’s important and what’s not. He works really hard. He knows who he is as a person and as a player and that’s the most important thing.”

After Thursday, the Pacers know exactly who Brown is as a player too, and they’ll be in serious trouble if this version of Brown persists throughout the Eastern Conference Finals.

The series now shifts back to Indiana for Saturday’s Game 3 as the Pacers look to salvage their fading title hopes.