Jaylen Brown on why he overlooked open Neemias Queta on late possession

TL;DR

In a critical Game 7, Jaylen Brown chose to pass to Payton Pritchard instead of an open Neemias Queta, resulting in a missed shot and a Celtics loss. Brown defended his decision, citing the potential for Joel Embiid to block Queta's layup.

Key points

Jaylen Brown passed to Payton Pritchard instead of Neemias Queta
Celtics lost Game 7 to the 76ers 109-100
Brown defended his decision citing Embiid's potential block
Pritchard had a playoff career-high of 32 points in Game 3
Celtics missed 9 of their last 10 field goal attempts

Jaylen BrownPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaJoel Embiid

BOSTON — On Saturday night, star guard Jaylen Brown had the ball in his hands with the Boston Celtics' season hanging in the balance. With 2:30 remaining in Game 7 between the second-seeded C's and seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers, Brown and company trailed 99-98 at home, but had the momentum shifting in their favor. After swatting Sixers wing Paul George, Brown received the rock at the top of the key on the other end of the floor. Meanwhile, Celtics center Neemias Queta appeared to break free for an open layup at the rim as his defender, Sixers center Joel Embiid, lagged behind in transition. The 7-footer called for the ball, yet Brown ended up driving further into the paint and kicking it out to Celtics point guard Payton Pritchard for a corner 3-pointer. Unfortunately, the career 39 percent 3-point shooter bricked the wide-open look, and Boston came up empty when it desperately needed points.

Apr 30, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) drives against Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) during the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images The Celtics went on to miss 9 of their last 10 field goal attempts in the season-ending contest and fell 109-100. If Pritchard's shot went in, perhaps it's a different story. Brown later defended his decision to dish it to his point guard rather than a roaming Queta. "Obviously, I see Neemi," the five-time All-Star clarified while breaking down the play on Sunday night. "I also see Embiid coming from behind...Maybe I should've went to Neemi, but then maybe Embiid blocks him from behind." In Game 3 of Celtics-Sixers, Pritchard recorded a playoff career-high of 32 points and netted 6 of his 12 attempts from beyond the arc. He also shot around 38 percent from 3-point land during the regular season and is known for being a threat on the perimeter. With all this in mind, it's easy to see why Brown trusted him with the game on the line. "I'm doing that 100 times out of 100," Brown said of finding Pritchard. "All season long, Pritchard has been that (expletive) for us and he still is that (expletive) for us." Brown and Pritchard have always brimmed with confidence, so it's no surprise that the two were in sync on one of the final plays of the first-round series. But, the ball didn't bounce in the Celtics' favor, and a frustrated Pritchard spoke on how that defines the brutal reality of the playoffs. "We had good looks, and if we hit them, then nobody says anything," Pritchard said postgame in a subdued locker room. "So, that's the end of the story. You just got to make them." While Pritchard would love to have that shot back, he won't have a chance at redemption until October when the 2026-27 season begins. The Celtics now must make the most of their longest offseason since 2021 and retool their roster in order to keep up with the rest of the league in an NBA that is more competitive than ever before. Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on: Blue Wire: iTunes: YouTube: *This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: *

Q&A

Why did Jaylen Brown pass to Payton Pritchard instead of Neemias Queta?

Jaylen Brown passed to Payton Pritchard because he believed Pritchard was a reliable shooter, despite Neemias Queta being open for a layup.

What was the outcome of the Celtics' Game 7 against the 76ers?

The Celtics lost Game 7 to the 76ers with a final score of 109-100, missing 9 of their last 10 field goal attempts.

How did Payton Pritchard perform in the playoffs before the Game 7 miss?

Payton Pritchard had a playoff career-high of 32 points in Game 3 and shot around 38 percent from three-point range during the regular season.

What did Jaylen Brown say about his decision-making in the final moments of Game 7?

Jaylen Brown stated he would make the same decision again, emphasizing his trust in Payton Pritchard as a key player for the team.

Jaylen Brown on why he overlooked open Neemias Queta on late possession

TL;DR

Key points

Q&A

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