Celtics Announce Final Decision on Jaylen Brown Ahead of Pistons Game

Dec 12, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) shoots the ball against Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey (23)during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | Eric Canha-Imagn Images

The Boston Celtics have made their final decision on four-time All-Star small forward Jaylen Brown and backup center Luka Garza's availability against the Detroit Pistons, ahead of a 3:30 p.m. ET encounter.

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According to Noa Dalzell of CLNS, both players will suit up. Six-time All-Star power forward Jayson Tatum, as usual, will sit out while he recovers from an Achilles tendon tear.

Celtics Injury Report Update vs. Detroit (10/26):

Jaylen Brown - AVAILABLE
Luka Garza - AVAILABLE

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) October 26, 2025

Boston could use all the healthy bodies it can get, as the renovated franchise seeks its first win of the regular season this afternoon.

Happily, two-time All-Defensive guard Derrick White has also been cleared to play through a right wrist sprain.

The 2025-26 Celtics are missing four key pieces from their 2024 championship squad, in Tatum, traded starters Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, and departed free agent power forward/center Al Horford. A fifth championship-era rotation piece, third-string backup center Luke Kornet, also left in free agency, inking a deal to back up rising San Antonio Spurs superstar big man Victor Wembanyama.

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Through two games, White is averaging a career-high 20.0 points a game, albeit on a deeply inefficient .316/.292/.900 slash line. He's also averaging 4.0 dimes, 3.5 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.0 rejections per.

While Tatum will eventually be back, he may not even return this season.

The other core pieces from Boston's most recent championship era have been replaced by trade addition Anfernee Simons, free agent signings Garza, Chris Boucher and Josh Minott, and promoted former non-rotation center Neemias Queta, now the starter at the five position.

Brown's Encouraging Start

Brown has been the Celtics' best player by default in the absence of Tatum, despite his limitations as a dribbler. The 6-foot-6 University of California at Berkeley product, 29, is averaging 24.0 points on .500/.455/700 shooting splits, 5.0 boards, 3.5 dimes (against a troubling 4.5 turnovers) and 0.5 steals a night.

Garza has yet to make much of a dent for the Celtics, in part because his concussion limited him to just six minutes in Boston's 117-116 season-opening loss Wednesday against the Philadelphia 76ers. After topping out as a part-time player on some loaded Minnesota Timberwolves teams in recent years, he'll likely get an opportunity to average a career-high in minutes behind starter Neemias Queta.

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