Jaylen Brown scored 35 points in Thursday's loss to the Thunder.
Jaylen Brown scored 35 points in Thursday's loss to the Thunder.Nate Billings/Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY – With a week left of observing Ramadan, Jaylen Brown admitted after Thursday’s 2-point loss at Oklahoma City that he needs to elevate his conditioning and endurance to face elite defenses.
It was his first game since being ejected for arguing a no-call and his fury-filled pursuit of more words with official Tyler Ford. Brown didn’t feel the need to atone, but he desired to play high caliber basketball against reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Brown responded with a 35-point night and his share of big plays and big buckets, but the Celtics couldn’t overcome the brilliance of Gilgeous-Alexander.
The Celtics lost this showdown with the defending champions, 104-102, at Paycom Center but again walked away with something to build on in coming weeks. They weren’t whole. Jayson Tatum missed his first game since his return – the injury report cited Achilles recovery management – and to protect him from Luguentz Dort, the flagrant foul-prone Thunder defender.
Derrick White also sat out with a sore knee, leaving Brown as the primary offensive option, and while he wasn’t nearly as efficient as Gilgeous-Alexander, he made his MVP case, nearly helping the Celtics pull off a stunning win.
Only a Chet Holmgren offensive rebound, which skidded off the rim past Sam Hauser, and then a Hauser foul with 0.8 seconds left prevented overtime. Holmgren sank both free throws for the go-ahead score. It was a second consecutive bitter defeat, but the Celtics played the right way and were perhaps one or two better executed possessions from sealing the win.
Brown, of course, took the loss on his shoulder. He didn’t want to discuss Tuesday’s events, potentially riling himself up again, but eventually he did.
“To be honest, I don’t think I deserved to get ejected,” he said. “Obviously, I was pissed that I didn’t get to compete in that game. That was another big time matchup that I circled on my calendar. Obviously, playing against the Spurs, [they’re] a good team, and I came out to a great start. Felt great. I felt like I was ready to have a big-time performance.
“And you know, my night got ended short. In certain spots, maybe I could have been a little bit better. But, you know, you’re passionate. It’s a big game. You know, you want to see emotion. You want to see your star players showing that emotion. I don’t think I deserve to get tossed and, you know, I think the NBA agreed because I didn’t get fined or anything like that.”
Having not spoken publicly in a few days, Brown had plenty of time to harness his thoughts and express himself with measurement and not anger. He addressed his basketball philosophy, which includes a strong stance against foul baiting — something Gilgeous-Alexander has been accused of in recent years.
Brown did not get specific and lauded Gilgeous-Alexander for his record-breaking 127th consecutive game of 20 or more points, but the Celtics forward appeared flustered about how the game is being officiated and how players who seek fouls instead of buckets are being encouraged.
“You know, I just, I don’t foul bait,” he said. “I’m not looking to flop or anything like that. But it’s almost like you got to. It’s almost like, because there’s a couple of plays in the fourth quarter, but I feel like I drove strong, and I didn’t get the benefit of the doubt, but maybe if I would have flopped, maybe I was able to sell that call, and those decide games. So it’s like, we commend players for playing the game the right way. But you know, we give the benefit to those who necessarily are trying to manipulate the game to their advantage. I just don’t think it’s basketball. Let’s just play basketball. All the foul baiting, I think is, is whatever for me.”
The fact he attempted 14 free throws, two short of his season high, after his tirade against officials was not lost on Brown. As a team leader, he fully realizes he can’t lose his cool and nearly snap. He said he’s trying to earn calls the right way, but the style of the NBA almost begs for star players to scream when they feel contact and throw themselves into defenders to get to the line.
“It’s one thing to get fouled, but it’s like when you’re not even trying to score, when you’re like, driving and flailing your body into them just to make it look like you’re getting fouled, I think that’s the part where it’s like, ‘Alright, come on,’” Brown said. “But I mean, that’s where our league is at. That’s where the NBA is at. So it’s like, either get down and lay down. So maybe I need to flop a little bit more.”
He was kidding. Flopping isn’t his nature. But one player who is notorious for arguing with officials, the Lakers’ Luka Doncic, is the league leader in free throw attempts. Gilgeous-Alexander is second. Brown is sixth.
The Celtics and Thunder face off again in 12 days at TD Garden. Boston will likely be whole then and still smarting from this defeat. But the Celtics fought valiantly against a team that’s the league leader in point differential and the best in the NBA at home. The goal is to win these games against the elite, and that may be necessary for Brown and the Celtics to secure the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.
Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.