Already head-to-head against a player who often inspires his best, Jaylen Brown found that with March 8, 2025’s fastbreak runway all to himself, the itinerary called for a trip into the history books of the NBA’s greatest rivalry along the way. Attached tightly enough to Luka Dončić’s back to become his second jersey number, Brown uses energetic, active hands to deny Gabe Vincent’s post entry attempt, setting up a one-man transition train with TD Garden audible in anticipation. Rewarding the 19,156 in attendance with something replayable, Brown elevates into a back-scratching two-handed flush, putting Boston ahead during a competitive opening-half tug-of-war. The could-be NBA Finals preview presented a welcome platform for the reigning Finals Most Valuable Player, as Brown ran up 31 points (on 13-of-25 shooting), supporting said brilliance with six rebounds, two assists, three steals, and three 3-pointers. Nearly flawless in his co-star role, Brown guided a post-halftime pull away, as the Celtics conquered the Los Angeles Lakers for a fourth-straight win. · Mar 9, 2025