Jaylen Brown jokes $35K fine paid dividends after Pacers win

ByNBAUSA



BOSTON — When Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown publicly criticized the referees almost two weeks ago he knew he was going to get a hefty fine. The NBA delivered one, charging him $35,000 for defaming an official after the Celtics shot just four free throws in a five-point loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Jan. 10.

In Brown’s view, his comments and the punishment that resulted from them were an investment. And it may finally pay dividends.

The Celtics made 25 free throws on Wednesday night, sinking 23 of them en route to a 119-104 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Brown had seven shots at the line in the first half — one shy of tying his career high for free-throw attempts in the first two quarters of a game — and joked after the game about possible reasons for the Celtics’ many charity outings.

“Yeah, maybe that was good,” he said with a slight smile after the double-digit win.

How the Celtics’ officiating has changed since Jaylen Brown’s penalty

Ironically, the most free-throw attempts Brown ever made in the first half came four days earlier when the Celtics defeated the Atlanta Hawks, 132-106. Although the Celtics are averaging the fewest free throw attempts per game (19.3) in the NBA this season, they have made the seventh most attempts (25.7) of any team over the past three games.

“When you play good teams, regardless of the X’s and O’s, you could say — appeal or not — if you get to the free throw line less than 10 times, less than six, eight times a game, it’s hard to win a game,” Brown admitted in the locker room. “Especially playing through physical play.”

While Brown averages the second most runs per outing in the Association, Boston hasn’t had as much benefit in early January. The now five-time All-Star had zero free throw attempts during that aforementioned Spurs loss and only three attempts two days before against the Denver Nuggets.

Brown called attention to inconsistencies in his officiating after both outings, but he didn’t let his irritation get in the way of his commitment to attacking the basket.

“I’m just going to continue to pressure the rim and continue to try to find ways to get those calls for our team because it benefits us in the long run,” he said Wednesday.

Even Celtics coach Joe Mazzula was annoyed with the referees this month. After last Monday’s narrow loss to the Pacers, the usually monotone manager answered every question from the media with the same phrase: “illegal screen.”

He thought Indiana set up one on its final possession of the contest resulting in a Pacers star Pascal Siakam’s game-winning jumper. The NBA report for the final two minutes later revealed that an illegal screen should have been called, which would have excused Mazula without changing the outcome of the game.

Since that controversy, the Celtics have picked up well on their regular diet of free throws. The Green team scored 25 against the Miami Heat, 22 against the Hawks, 30 against the Detroit Pistons, and again over 20 during Wednesday’s win.

“I’m happy with that,” Macula said of Boston’s ability to get to the line and diversify its scoring. “Back-to-back games, 25 and 30 free throw attempts … Talking about physicality, one of the ways you have to fight is to get to the free throw line. I think what we’re able to do just gives us a chance in a different way.”

Boston is averaging the second most 3-point attempts per game this season, so it makes sense that they haven’t always lived at the free throw line. However, the Celtics are still averaging just over 41 attempts from beyond the arc over their last three free throw-filled games.

If the Celtics are still making a fair amount of threes and their driving rate hasn’t changed, why are they shooting more free throws lately?

Maybe the league finally took notice of Brown and Macula’s complaints. Perhaps this is an anomaly, or simply another example of the NBA’s devious officiating.

Regardless of the reasoning, the Celtics are committed to overcoming all obstacles, and they’ve done a good job of accomplishing that given their 27-16 record.

“Very resilient, very tough,” Brown described the 2025-26 Celtics. “Starting the season, the expectations weren’t high, but these guys came in and worked day in and day out. Last year, we finished second in the East. We’re halfway through the season and we’re second in the East. So that’s just a testament to the work ethic, the resilience of our head coach, our leadership. And we’re right there where we’re tested.”





2026-01-22 22:31:00

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