Honestly, if you told a Celtics fan back in May that Jayson Tatum would still be sidelined in mid-January, they’d probably have assumed the season was a wash. We’re talking about a ruptured Achilles. That's the "boogeyman" of basketball injuries. Yet, here we are in 2026, and the latest news on the Boston Celtics is actually... kind of incredible?
Boston currently sits at 25-15. They're second in the East. They just ground out a 119-114 win against Miami on the road, and they’re doing it with a version of "Mazzulla Ball" that is even weirder and more disciplined than what we saw during the 2024 title run.
The Jaylen Brown MVP Campaign is Very Real
It’s time to stop treating Jaylen Brown like a "1B" or a high-end co-star. With Tatum rehabbing that right Achilles (and realistically looking at a late March return at the absolute earliest), Brown has turned into a pure scoring engine.
He’s averaging a career-high 29.5 points per game.
Think about that for a second. He’s shooting nearly 50% from the floor while every single defensive coordinator in the league is circling his name in red ink. According to recent tracking data, Brown’s usage rate has spiked to 36.6%. He’s essentially playing the role Tatum played in 2023, but with a refined playmaking skip in his step. He’s averaging 5.0 assists, which is a massive jump from his previous career norms.
"This season, I focus more on basketball than I ever have... just because my team needed me to do and be this every single night." — Jaylen Brown via Bloomberg.
The most impressive part? The Celtics started the year 5-7. People were panicking. They were calling for Brad Stevens to blow up the bench because the salary cap restrictions from the new CBA were finally "catching up." Since then? Boston has gone 20-8.
The Injury Report is a Mess (But It Doesn't Matter)
If you check the latest news on the Boston Celtics injury front, it’s not just Tatum. It’s a revolving door.
- Payton Pritchard: Listed as doubtful for the January 17th game against Atlanta with left ankle soreness. This sucks because Pritchard has been their third-best player this year.
- Josh Minott: Out with a left ankle sprain.
- Kristaps Porzingis: Interestingly, Porzingis is now in Atlanta, but dealing with his own Achilles tendinitis issues.
- Sam Hauser: Been battling a hamstring tweak that makes his availability a coin flip most nights.
Joe Mazzulla has responded to this by turning the Celtics into a defensive juggernaut. They currently rank 2nd in the NBA in opponent points per game (110.2). They aren't just out-shooting people; they are suffocating them. They play at the slowest pace in the league (30th of 30), which is a wild pivot for a team that used to love the transition game. It’s methodical. It’s grindy. It’s winning basketball.
The Trade Deadline: Is Brad Stevens Hunting a Big?
We have to talk about the Ivica Zubac rumors. For weeks, the "Trade Machine" nerds have been trying to get Zubac into a Celtics jersey. It made sense—the Clippers were 6-21 and looked like they were heading for a fire sale.
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The latest word from NBA insider Jake Fischer is that those hopes are basically dead. The Clippers have bounced back, and they aren't eager to move a guy on a team-friendly $58.6 million extension.
So, what does Brad Stevens do?
The frontcourt depth is thin. Neemias Queta has been a godsend, giving them high-energy minutes and steady rim protection, but relying on him for a deep playoff run is risky. Names like Robert Williams III (the reunion narrative is strong) and Day'Ron Sharpe are still floating around the rumor mill. Honestly, a reunion with "Time Lord" would be poetic, but his health is always the $100 million question.
Joe Mazzulla’s "Magic Touch"
Mazzulla just won Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for December after leading the team to a 9-3 record. He also hit his 200th career win in just 275 games. That’s faster than Phil Jackson.
The guy has a weird way of coaching—pulling all the starters in the third quarter when they’re down 20 just to "spark" something—but it works. He has this roster believing they can win a title without their best player.
What to Watch For Next
If you’re following the latest news on the Boston Celtics, the next two weeks are the "proving ground." Without Pritchard (likely) and definitely without Tatum, the backcourt burden falls on Derrick White. White is averaging 20.1 points and over 5 assists himself. He’s basically an All-Star this year, even if the national media hasn't caught up yet.
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The Celtics face the Hawks tonight (Jan 17), and then they have a gauntlet of Eastern Conference contenders.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
- Monitor the Buyout Market: Since a Zubac trade is unlikely, watch for veterans who get waived post-deadline. Boston has a roster spot they can wiggle with.
- Watch the Standings, Not the Score: In 2026, the East is top-heavy. As long as Boston stays in the top 3, they can afford to bring Tatum back slowly in March.
- Draft DFS Jaylen Brown: Seriously. Until Tatum returns, Brown’s floor is 25 points. His ceiling is 50.
The Celtics aren't just surviving; they're evolving. They've traded flashy transition dunks for a defensive identity that might actually be more sustainable for a June run. Keep an eye on the injury reports leading up to the All-Star break, as that will dictate if Brad Stevens pulls the trigger on a "marginal" move for bench depth.
For now, the Jaylen Brown show is the best thing in Boston.
Next Steps: Keep a close eye on the injury report for the January 17th game against Atlanta to see if Payton Pritchard is a late scratch, and track Jaylen Brown's field goal attempts—if he's taking 25+ shots, the Celtics' winning percentage climbs significantly.