Jaylen Brown Sits Out vs. Knicks With Achilles Tendinitis as Celtics Chase No. 2 Seed

Jaylen Brown was ruled out of Thursday night's Celtics-Knicks matchup with left Achilles tendinitis — the same issue that's dogged him on and off this season. He dropped 35 points against the Hornets just 24 hours earlier, which only makes the decision more telling. Boston isn't risking their second star with the playoffs two weeks away.

The timing couldn't be worse for the Celtics, who need a win over New York to clinch the Atlantic Division crown and lock up the No. 2 seed in the East. Without Brown, Jayson Tatum has to carry the load against a Knicks team fighting for the 3-seed. Boston is 54-25; New York is 51-28. This game matters for both sides.

The bigger question is whether the Achilles issue is something that lingers into the postseason. Brown has been managing it for weeks, and Boston's medical staff is clearly being cautious. If this turns into a recurring problem, the Celtics' championship defense gets a lot harder.