Celtics star Jaylen Brown jumps up in NBA.com’s latest MVP rankings

The Boston Celtics' five-game winning streak ended with a 116-101 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night. Despite the team's loss, Celtics star Jaylen Brown delivered another standout performance, scoring 30 points on 10-of-17 shooting.

This game marked Brown's fourth consecutive performance with at least 30 points. His scoring surge has been crucial in filling the void left by the absence of teammate Jayson Tatum, demonstrating his capability to lead the offense.

Brown's exceptional play has earned him significant recognition, as he jumped five spots to claim the No. 5 position on the most recent NBA.com MVP ladder. NBA.com's Shaun Powell noted this was the largest leap by any player this season, attributing it to Brown's career-high scoring pace and his role in elevating the Celtics' performance.

With Brown averaging 29.1 points per game, the Celtics have achieved a 15-10 record this season. Surpassing preseason expectations formed without Tatum, the team now holds third place in the Eastern Conference, resembling their competitive form of recent years.

Powell further praised Brown, stating that over the last six games, he has performed the duties of a top-tier player as effectively as Tatum. The Celtics and Brown will aim to return to winning form in their next game against the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons on Monday.