Celtics' Jaylen Brown Earns MVP Chants in 41-Point Game

The All-Star forward delighted the Boston crowd with a dominant performance against the Suns.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 2:12pm

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Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown scored a game-high 41 points on 50% shooting in a 120-112 win over the Phoenix Suns. Brown's offensive aggression resulted in a career-high 21 free throw attempts, and he was serenaded with "MVP" chants from the TD Garden crowd. Brown also participated in Boston's St. Patrick's Day parade earlier in the weekend, where he received more MVP chants from fans in the streets of South Boston.

Why it matters

Jaylen Brown's standout performance and the MVP chants he received highlight his continued growth as an elite player in the NBA. As the Celtics push towards the playoffs, Brown's ability to lead the team and receive this level of adulation from the Boston faithful is a positive sign for the franchise.

The details

Brown was relentless in attacking the rim against the Suns, forcing the referees to make call after call. This resulted in his career-high 21 free throw attempts. He also made a crucial defensive play, stealing the ball cleanly from Suns star Devin Booker, leading to an easy layup for Celtics teammate Jayson Tatum that cut the Suns' lead to one and forced a timeout. The Celtics then closed out the game on a 10-1 run.

  • On Monday night, March 17, 2026, during the Celtics' 120-112 win over the Suns.
  • On Sunday, March 16, 2026, Jaylen Brown participated in Boston's St. Patrick's Day parade.

The players

Jaylen Brown

A five-time NBA All-Star and key player for the Boston Celtics, known for his scoring ability and two-way play.

Jayson Tatum

Jaylen Brown's teammate and fellow star player for the Boston Celtics, who has a strong on-court partnership with Brown.

Devin Booker

The star player for the Phoenix Suns, who was the victim of a crucial defensive play by Jaylen Brown late in the game.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The reigning NBA MVP, who plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder and is the favorite to win the award again this season.

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What they’re saying

“It's pretty cool, not gonna lie. It's pretty awesome to be at this point in my career and be able to get that love from the fans.”

— Jaylen Brown (clutchpoints.com)

“I feel like even now over the last couple of games, I've adjusted my game, and I'm still continuing to get better in my playmaking ability, seeing the floor, taking my time, all of that stuff is still continuing to improve.”

— Jaylen Brown (clutchpoints.com)

“I was in Southie yesterday and I got some MVP chants as well. I think that might've been a little cooler.”

— Jaylen Brown (clutchpoints.com)

“We can rely on one another in the biggest moments, the biggest games, the biggest situations, we've been through all of them together.”

— Jayson Tatum (clutchpoints.com)

“I'm proud of my team, I'm proud of myself. I've always felt like I could be one of the top players in the world given the opportunity, and I feel like I got to display that this season. Now the focus is getting ready for the playoffs.”

— Jaylen Brown (clutchpoints.com)

What’s next

The Celtics will host the injured Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night in a primetime showdown. While this game may not provide Jaylen Brown with a big enough stage to further his MVP case, it will give him the opportunity to continue his stellar season and keep the Celtics rolling ahead of the playoffs.

The takeaway

Jaylen Brown's dominant performance and the enthusiastic MVP chants he received from Celtics fans highlight his continued growth as an elite player in the NBA. As the Celtics push towards the playoffs, Brown's ability to lead the team and receive this level of adulation from the Boston faithful is a positive sign for the franchise.