The Celtics just handled business at Madison Square Garden, taking down the Knicks in a statement win. That victory wasn’t just about bragging rights—it gave them some extra cushion in the Eastern Conference standings, keeping New York a step behind. Now, with that win in the books, their attention turns to Miami. But not without bad news for one of their stars, Jaylen Brown.

Before Boston could focus on stacking wins, they had some bad news to share—Brown won’t be suiting up. He was initially labeled a game-time decision with a knee issue, but about an hour before tip-off, the team made it official and ruled him out. Brown has been a key piece for the Celtics this season, putting up 22.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. He’s shooting 46.1% from the field but struggling a bit from three at 32.4%.

There official reason listed for his absence is right knee swelling. He skipped the morning shootaround, and this will be his first missed game since January 3. If all goes well, he could be back in action on Wednesday against the Spurs. With Brown out, Boston has some lineup decisions to make. Sam Hauser looks like the obvious choice to slide into the starting five but don’t be surprised if Payton Pritchard takes on a bigger role off the bench.

Jayson Tatum’s status was also up in the air heading into the game, but Boston gave the green light. The star forward battled through a right patella injury and will suit up. With Brown out, that’s a much-needed boost for the Celtics.

While these two stars will be available during the All-Star games, another Celtic has apparently rejected an invitation to the event.

While Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum will be there for the All-Star games, their best man off the bench won’t

The 2025 NBA All-Star Game is almost here, and as expected, a couple of Celtics will be in the mix, obviously.  Tatum and Brown secured their spots, marking Tatum’s sixth selection and Brown’s fourth. But here’s a twist—not every Celtic who got a chance to participate took it. Payton Pritchard recently admitted that the league reached out, inviting him to the three-point contest. Instead of jumping at the opportunity, he decided to pass, saying the timing just wasn’t right for him.

Pritchard has always been a solid shooter, but this season, he’s taking it to another level. He’s knocking down 42.2% of his threes on 7.6 attempts per game—both career highs. That puts him among the league’s best, ranking 17th in three-point percentage and eighth in total threes made. Despite skipping the three-point contest, his impact isn’t flying under the radar.

Beyond his shooting, Pritchard is making a strong push for Sixth Man of the Year. While he admitted winning it would be “an honor,” he’s not losing sleep over it. His focus? Helping Boston win. And so far, it’s paying off. The Celtics, sitting at 37-16, are locked in as serious contenders. With the playoffs creeping closer, they’ll be eyeing that No. 1 seed. But whether they get it or not, let’s be real—nobody wants to see them in a seven-game series.