Why is Jaylen Brown not playing against Cavaliers? NBA champion's absence for Celtics explored
Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. After not being listed on any prior injury report, the veteran swingman was a late scratch for the Celtics.
The illness remains undisclosed, but Brown can be considered questionable for Monday's matchup against the Miami Heat. Besides JB, Derrick White is also out for this game with a foot injury.
Jaylen Brown and the Celtics beat the Cavaliers the last time they clashed, ending their unbeaten run and establishing themselves as one of the top teams in the NBA. Tonight's game will be a good chance for the Cavs to bounce back after dropping back-to-back games to the Atlanta Hawks.
The Boston Celtics are one of the best teams in the NBA this season, boasting a 16-3 record ahead of the Cavaliers' duel. They are in the middle of a seven-game winning streak, having won nine of their last 10 games. The C's picked up things right where they left off last season and as things stand right now, there aren't many teams that look like serious candidates to dethrone them.
Jaylen Brown has led them in either points or rebounds in six of those matchups, therefore his absence could be key for the development of the game.
Jaylen Brown is having a terrific 2024-25 NBA season
After reaching glory with the Celtics last season, Jaylen Brown returned to the court on a strong note. He's played 15 of 19 games this campaign, averaging 24.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He's shooting 43.2% from the field, 33.9% from deep and 76.5% from the free-throw line.
Coming off a summer where he was snubbed from Team USA, Brown is seemingly playing with a chip on his shoulder and the Celtics are taking advantage of that. He proved himself against doubters during the 2024 playoffs, but neither he nor the Celtics are satisfied after winning a championship.
A win against the Cavaliers today would take them to the No. 1 spot in the Eastern Conference standings, returning to the place they owned for a large part of last season.
After losing to the Atlanta Hawks on Nov. 12, the Celtics could miss the NBA Cup knockout stage after the Hawks earned a quarterfinal slot, but they're still in the race to get a ticket for the next round thanks to their 3-1 record.