Jaylen Brown & 76ers: Eastern Conference Race Heats Up

Is Jaylen Brown just entering the MVP race? The Boston Celtics’ go-to guy equaled his career high at the LA Clippers on Saturday and is currently carrying his team from one win to the next. Otherwise, at the top of the Eastern Conference, there were season premieres for the Knicks and Joel Embiid in New York – with a different note.

MVP of the night: 50-piece for Jaylen Brown

The LA Clippers (12-22) enjoyed a 50-point game in recent days thanks to Kawhi Leonard, but had to see it up close in the 115-146 defeat of the Boston Celtics (22-12). Jaylen Brown crowned his outstanding form in recent weeks with a career high of 50 points. He already achieved this in January 2022 when he also gave the Orlando Magic 50 points.

The visiting fans from Boston at the Inutit Dome recognized the achievements of their 2024 Finals MVP with a standing ovation. On the way to his 50-piece, Brown hit an impressive 18 of his 26 shots from the field, 6 of his 10 three-pointers and was almost unscathed with 8/10 from the free throw line. He also distributed 5 assists. Brown has now scored 30 or more points nine times in the last eleven games.

The Celtics can take advantage of Brown’s momentum and have won twelve of the last 15 games, which means they now find themselves in third place in the Eastern Conference – just half a game behind the New York Knicks (23-12).

Starting five of the night: 76ers trip up

After their first game of the season with fewer than 100 points on Friday, the same Knicks had to digest another unpleasant season premiere just one evening later. The 119:130 defeat against the Philadelphia 76ers (19-14) meant the second home defeat in a row and at the same time the third defeat in a row for the Manhattan franchise.

The reason for this? The guests’ starting five looked like those in charge had been dreaming of for a long time. Tyrese Maxey led his team with 36 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Joel Embiid recorded 26 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and his celebrated first dunk of the season. Rookie VJ Edgecombe had just as many points as the 2023 MVP, putting 10 of his 16 shots in the basket. There were also 15 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists from Paul George (5/11 FG, 3/5 3P) and 5 points from Dominick Barlow.

Two free throws from Embiid made the score the largest 76ers lead of 96:77 at the end of the third quarter. The hosts couldn’t get closer than seven points afterwards.

Rookie of the night: Edgecombe finds second living room

The Sixers were only guests at Madison Square Garden for the last time on December 20th and even then they were able to give the Knickerbockers a run for their money. Second best Sixer scorer back then? Correct! Rookie Edgecombe! The 20-year-old easily surpassed his 23 points from his Garden debut on Saturday and has thus found a second living room next to the home Xfinitiy Movile Arena in Philly?

Unlucky people of the night: Sengun, Washington and Jones injured

The Texas derby between the host Dallas Mavericks (13-23) and the Houston Rockets (21-11) took its toll. Top performers on both sides, PJ Washington and Alperen Sengun, were eliminated with ankle injuries.

Washington was injured in the first quarter, but finished the period before disappearing into the catacombs and no longer taking part in the game. The Rockets lost their center, who had just returned from a minor calf injury, much earlier.

After less than a minute, the Turk rolled over on the foot of Mavs center Daniel Gafford during a rebound situation. The Rockets started the game without Steven Adams, who was also sidelined with an ankle injury.

Another setback for Derrick Jones Jr. in the Clippers defeat against the Celtics also looked worrying. In a duel with Payton Pritchard a good ten minutes before the end, the Celtics guard fell on the athletic forward’s recently recovered knee. In Boston, of all places, Jones injured his medial ligament and was ruled out for 17 games. Saturday’s home game was just his fourth game back.

Voices of the night:

Joe Mazzulla (Head Coach, Boston Celtics) marvels at Jaylen Brown: “After the game, I thanked him in a way. I thought it was an honor to watch such a performance as a coach. He obviously brought it today with his shotmaking in mind, but his defense was incredible from start to finish. It was one of the most complete games I’ve seen from him so far.”

Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers) looks at his first dunk of the season: “It is what it is. That was an easy one. I wish he had been off the board with an assist. That’s the next step.”