Jaylen Brown's improbable leap has put the East on notice and has Celtics fans elated

Two of Jaylen Brown’s 41 points in Monday’s win over the Phoenix Suns came after he hustled to recover a missed Jayson Tatum layup in transition that almost everyone in TD Garden figured would find the bottom of the net.

The crowd erupted as Brown’s putback bucket gave the Celtics a lead that they’d never relinquish over the final 2:30.

“We can rely on one another in the biggest moments, in the biggest games, in the biggest situations,” Tatum said of his partnership with Brown. “We've been through all of them together, and came out on top in most of them… When we step on that floor, you know that the other person is going to do whatever it takes.”

Boston’s two stars had linked up for an electric sequence about 40 seconds prior. Brown swiped a steal from Suns star Devin Booker, ran the floor, and found Tatum for a eurostep layup to close the gap to just one.

Both men put together great games, but Monday was Brown’s night. He either scored or assisted on his team’s final 10 points before Phoenix was forced to intentionally foul to prolong the game. His performance in the final frame was special. Brown tallied 18 points, four rebounds, an assist, a block, and a steal to get Boston over the finish line.

Brown gave the Celtics more than just 41 points

His 41 points lead all scorers, but his impact stemmed far beyond that. JB also racked up seven rebounds and six assists, continuing his well-rounded playstyle of recent weeks. Since returning from the All-Star break, Brown is averaging 24.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.1 assists.

This sustained play from the star forward should have Celtics fans feeling great as the playoffs grow closer. The 28-year-old star seems ready to run through the Eastern Conference.

“His ability to spread the floor, get into the paint, make plays for himself or others, combat their physicality with offensive physicality and drives, I thought he took that challenge on,” head coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters postgame. “I thought he was great in it. But besides the 41 points, I think really he made a big-time steal. … Had some great deflections. … I thought it was just a well-rounded game for him on both sides of the floor.”

As Mazzulla pointed out, the Suns’ physicality and defensive pressure swung the momentum in their favor. Specifically, early in the fourth quarter. Phoenix strung together a 21-8 run by making the Celtics uncomfortable and forcing them to turn the ball over.

Not only did Brown score six of those eight points to keep the Cs afloat, but he erased two more for the Suns when he refused to let them turn a steal into easy points.

On the offensive end, Brown’s physicality did not go unnoticed, nor did it go unrewarded. The All-Star starter shot a career-high 21 free throws. He converted on 19 of them, including a perfect 10-10 performance in the fourth quarter.

Brown didn’t do anything differently in terms of approach though. According to him, it was the same -- playing physical, going to the rim, and jumping off of two feet -- the whistles were just there for him.

“I just came out and was aggressive,” the 2024 NBA Finals MVP explained. “What I think about when I have the ball is just be aggressive every time you have it, and then live with the results. So I was physical.”

The bond between Brown and Boston continues to strengthen

His many trips to the charity stripe were soundtracked by MVP chants as the Garden faithful showed appreciation for JB’s season-long brilliance.

“It’s pretty cool, not gonna lie,” he shared. “It’s pretty awesome to be at my this point in my career and be able to get that love from the fans… I was in Southie yesterday and I got some MVP chants as well in Southie. That might’ve been a little cooler.”

No. 7’s 41-point masterclass came just over 24 hours after he and his 741 Performance brand rode through the streets of South Boston as part of the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade on Sunday morning.

“It was fun. That was my first time going to Saint Patrick’s Day… it felt like there was like a million people out there. It was cold, it was early, but it felt like the whole city was drunk.”

The Celtics star has embedded himself within the Boston community at every available opportunity over the past year. He surprised students at several local schools last spring following the team’s playoff elimination, stayed in the city for the majority of the offseason last summer, and spread holiday joy and handed out cash and gifts in several neighborhoods in December.