The Boston Celtics have just finished a back-to-back dates with the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday evening. Jayson Tatum continues to miss time due to the league's health and safety protocols but Jaylen Brown managed to step up for the team. Brown came out with impressive performances in two games against the Sixers so much so that it caught the eye of opposing head coach Doc Rivers who eventually heaped praise on the 24-year-old, via Adam Himmelsbach.
Doc on Jaylen: "Obviously, you give him a three, he’s a deadeye, knockdown three-point shooter. I don’t think he was that when he first came in the league, and now he is. But his biggest improvement and where they really developed, off the dribble he’s really tough."
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) January 23, 2021
In the first tilt between the two teams back on Jan. 20, the undermanned Celtics managed to hang around against the Celtics in the first three-quarters of the game. However, they eventually ran out of gas in the final frame to succumb to a 117-109 defeat.
The Celtics didn't have many answers to the Sixers' offensive attack as only four players scored in double digits. Brown came out with 26 points, five rebounds, and three assists while the returning Kemba Walker notched 19 points and six assists.
It was pretty much the same story in the following game as Sixers big man Joel Embiid continued on his dominant performance on the floor. The Celtics couldn't answer back and ultimately fell to a 122-110 loss. Brown had an even better individual performance as he exploded for 42 points and nine rebounds. Marcus Smart dropped 20 points while Kemba Walker added 19 points for the Celtics.
Due to a recent COVID-19 outbreak that hit the Celtics' roster, the team is now currently on a three-game losing skid. They still managed to hold on to an 8-6 record for the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference despite their consecutive losses.
Jaylen Brown definitely served as a bright spot for the team as they await the looming return of Jayson Tatum in the coming games. They will aim to get back in the win column when they host the streaking Cleveland Cavaliers on Jan. 24.
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