HOUSTON — As the Celtics put the finishing touches on their win over the pesky Rockets, Oshae Brissett still hustled toward the bucket. Jaylen Brown was at 13 points and 11 rebounds, but he was still stuck at nine assists. Brissett said he knew their star was just one assist shy of a triple-double.
That’s when Brissett made the cut toward the bucket as Brown made the pass in the Celtics’ win 116-107 over the Rockets on Sunday. Brown succeeded in getting his third-career triple-double, his first since April 2022. The counting stats don’t pop off the page, but the performance was a testament to Brown growing as a playmaker and leader. And that’s part of the sacrifice he’s made this season, too. Brown hasn’t needed to fill up the scoring sheet to impact the game as evidenced by his play Sunday.
“I was aware,” Brown said. “My teammates kind of let me know. They were trying to help me out. Not all the time you get to have moments like that. Appreciate my teammates for knocking down shots and helping me get it at the end.”
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Brown added he wasn’t sure if the box score was entirely correct. He thought he was short-changed an assist or two, adding a bit to his confusion. Brissett said he told Brown midway through the fourth quarter he was close to the triple-double, partly why he was keen on getting it for his teammate. Once the play converted, there weren’t any huge celebrations but just some heads nods, Brissett said.
It’s been a process when it comes to Brown as a playmaker, which hasn’t always been a part of his game. He got some criticism earlier this season that didn’t sit well with him as he had back-to-back games with zero assists. The C’s came to his side in support, saying potential assists are a better measuring stick for his playmaking abilities.
There are other factors when it comes to Brown’s improved all-around game. He’s in the middle of an impressive defensive season as he’s said that’s all intentional. The C’s have boasted a great defense in the past few years, but after trading former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart, Brown said he didn’t want the team to miss a beat on that end. His teammates notice that work, too.
“It speaks about his leadership,” Kristaps Porzingis said. “He understands that he doesn’t need to score 30 every night. He can have this kind of night where he’s not making all the shots, but just making those passes, making those reads for his teammates. Us as a group, that’s just a chain reaction.”
Porzingis was the headliner Sunday as he put up 32 points on 11-for-20 shooting, including 6-of-11 from 3-point land. Notably, the C’s went to him in the post on multiple possessions down the stretch, and he delivered crucial points to ensure the Rockets didn’t get too close. Brown and Porzingis have had surprisingly good chemistry right from the start — that was also on display Sunday.
The Celtics are still a work-in-progress even with the league-best 33-10 record. They’re still sifting through how to optimally have Porzingis dominate the post on switches. They’re trying different schemes defensively where they mix up coverages to keep opponents constantly adjusting. For a contender like the Celtics, that’s what the regular season is for. And on that list includes Brown improving as a playmaker as he’s shown an improved game.
“Just being able to make the right plays, see the game,” Brown said. “Each night is going to be a different night. We got a good team, which doesn’t require me to score the ball. Tonight, they were overaggressive helping at the rim. We had kickouts and wide open shots all night. Just keep making the right play over and over again. That’s what it’s all about.”
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