Celtics star Jaylen Brown explains how he got some payback against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown exacted some revenge against Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Wednesday night with a familiar maneuver.
BOSTON — Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is often heralded as one of the craftiest players in the NBA. However, even he was fooled on Wednesday night, as Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown got him on a pivotal up-fake that helped fuel a 119-109 victory for the Green Team. With just under 8 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Brown drove at Gilgeous-Alexander before pulling up short.
He then pump faked twice and got the Thunder star to bite, causing SGA to collide with him as he drained a 13-foot jumper. The refs rewarded Brown's maneuver and he sank the free throw, giving the Celtics an 11-point lead that was just enough of a cushion to hold off the reigning champs. Jaylen Brown caught SGA with the bait 😅 pic.
twitter. com/9jj9W2ceEs — ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 26, 2026 SGA knew he was duped. He clapped his hands together in frustration once the shot fell while Brown smiled wide near center court.
TD Garden erupted, and the Celtics star later explained why he was grinning from ear to ear. "Well, he got me last time we played him, he got me on the up-fake," he recalled during his postgame press conference. "I knew it was coming, and I still jumped for it.