Jaylen Brown Shakes Off Knee Injury, Lifts Celtics Past Magic in Game 5

Jaylen Brown Battles Knee Injury to Lead Celtics Over Magic

Fans biting their nails over Jaylen Brown’s status for Game 5 got relief even before tip-off. Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla confirmed Brown was good to go, despite his knee acting up during the back end of the regular season and lingering as the playoffs heated up. Celtics followers have seen this movie before—Brown pushing through pain, refusing to sit out when the stakes are high. That stubborn grit came through loud and clear as Boston took on a desperate Orlando Magic squad at TD Garden.

If the knee was bothering him, Brown didn’t let it show on the court. He powered his way to 23 points, dropping 9 buckets on 18 tries and grabbing six rebounds in an energetic display. Not only did he get hot from mid-range, but he also made a point to drive hard to the rim—something that’s tougher on sore knees. With Boston’s other stars working in sync, the Celtics steamrolled Orlando 120-89, clinching the series 4-1 and sending a loud message: this team is sticking to its championship chase, bumps and bruises be damned.

Managing Jaylen Brown’s Knee Injury: The Inside Approach

Coach Mazzulla didn’t spin fairy tales in his pregame talks. He admitted the medical staff and coaching team have had to keep a close eye on Brown’s workload since April, adjusting practice routines and game minutes to be smart instead of stubborn. Still, Brown’s name never budged from the starting lineup. Asked about it, Mazzulla was clear—the Celtics need Brown’s impact, so their only option is smart management, not outright rest. With postseason intensity ramped up, the team knows every strong performance matters.

Brown’s numbers this postseason haven’t dipped, even with the knee concern. The Celtics’ gameplan does more than lean on him—it gives him outlets, whether that means catching passes on the perimeter for confident jumpers or crashing the boards against larger defenders. Orlando threw everything they had to contain him, but Brown’s ability to shift gears and produce in key moments separated Boston from the pack.

With the win, Boston now gets a short breather before moving to the Eastern Conference semifinals. Their next challenger is still a question mark—either the Pistons or the Knicks—but serious Celtics fans know the health of Jaylen Brown's knee is going to be a point of focus in every pregame update.

The Celtics’ approach to managing Brown’s knee injury gives them a blueprint for handling star players under playoff pressure. For now, he’s proven that he won’t let a sore joint stop him from making a difference—Boston’s eyes are squarely on another deep run, and Brown’s resilience just might be the spark they need.