Celtics rule out star G Jaylen Brown vs. Knicks

The Boston Celtics will be without star guard Jaylen Brown on Thursday as they vie to clinch the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference against the host New York Knicks.

Brown, 29, has been ruled out for the contest due to left Achilles tendonitis, the team announced.

He boasts career-best averages in points (28.8), rebounds (7.0) and assists (5.2) over 70 games (all starts) this season.

The Celtics (54-25) reside three games in front of the third-place Knicks (51-28) with three games remaining in the campaign.

A five-time All-Star and 2024 NBA Finals MVP, Brown has averaged 20.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 673 career games (566 starts) since being selected by the Celtics with the third overall pick of the 2016 NBA Draft.