Jan 31, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) passes the ball against New Orleans Pelicans center Karlo Matkovic (17) during the second half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Celtics Make Final Decision on Jaylen Brown vs Pelicans

Originally posted on Boston Celtics on SI
By Alex Kirschenbaum | Last updated Oct 27, 2025 7:01 PM ET

The Boston Celtics have made a final determination on Jaylen Brown's availability against the New Orleans Pelicans.

The 2024 Finals MVP has been managing a left hamstring strain for the entire season, but he hasn't missed a game yet. It hasn't helped Boston much, however, as the club is currently winless after its first three games.

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Brown had been questionable to suit up, per the league's latest injury report.

Per Noa Dalzell of CelticsBlog, Brown has been upgraded and will help Boston try to nab a win against the lowly New Orleans Pelicans.

Jaylen Brown is AVAILABLE tonight, per Celtics https://t.co/Wjh6uEeUCU
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) October 27, 2025

Ahead of the Pelicans contest — the Celtics' second of an early back-to-back slate — head coach Joe Mazzulla had indicated that Brown was going to be a game-time decision.

Brown, 29, has enjoyed a solid start to his season so far. The 6-foot-6 University of California at Berkeley product is averaging 29.7 points on .492/.500/.760 shooting splits, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists (against 4.3 turnovers) through his first three games.

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He enjoyed his best game of the year just last night, scoring 41 points on 12-of-25 shooting from the floor (5-of-9 from distance) and 12-of-15 shooting from the charity stripe, grabbing six rebounds, and dishing out four dimes in a 119-113 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday.

Beyond six-time All-Star power forward Jayson Tatum (who'll miss most — or all — of the 2025-26 season recovering from an Achilles tendon tear), the rest of the Celtics' injury report is fairly clean. Boston has sent rookie two-way player Max Shulga to its G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics, to get some on-court reps.

Unlucky Pelicans

New Orleans, meanwhile, won't be so lucky. Two-time All-Star power forward Zion Williamson, who has been hurt more than he's been healthy so far in his NBA career, will miss a game within the first week of the 2025-26 regular season, according to the latest injury report.

The 6-foot-6 former Duke Blue Devil had been previously considered questionable to play through a left bone contusion.

Veteran Pelicans center Kevon Looney (left knee sprain) and All-Star guard Dejounte Murray (right Achilles tear recovery) are both also sidelined for New Orleans.

The action tips off in New Orleans at 8 p.m. ET.