Jaylen Brown didn’t just have another big night Sunday in Portland (13-19), he quietly stepped into Celtics (19-12) history and did it in a way that now feels routine.

Brown hit 30 points in the third quarter of Boston’s loss to the Blazers, marking nine straight 30-point games. That ties Larry Bird’s franchise record from 1985.

Different era. Same green. Same standard.

Brown got there quickly, pouring in 27 points in the first half by attacking Portland’s defense and ending with a buzzer-beating three. He reached 30 at the free-throw line with 5:28 left in the third, making it feel almost routine.

This wasn’t luck or empty scoring. Brown was decisive and aggressive. He had 37 points on 14 of 24 shooting, plus 7 rebounds and 4 assists. He was the one Celtic who you felt like had a chance to change the game for Boston on a night where nothing was dropping for them.

With Jayson Tatum out, Brown has embraced his role as the engine. He entered Sunday averaging 29.4 points per game and has scored 30 in 12 of his last 13 games, along with 20 times in 29 games this season. That’s not a hot streak. That’s who he is now. And it’s why he’s sixth in the NBA in scoring.

Head coach Joe Mazzulla sees this as growth, not just a scoring binge.

“To me, it’s just balance,” told reporters after their win in Indiana on Friday. “He picks and chooses his spots really well. We’re obviously playing a little bit faster, so he’s getting some easy baskets in transition. I think he’s finding a great balance of knowing when to score within the offense vs. letting the guys kind of do their thing. I think it’s kind of letting him rest a little bit.

“He just spends a ton of time on reading the game and the execution of the game. Obviously, he’s very, very talented, and that has a lot to do with it. Just his desire to continue to work and play vs. different coverages has really helped.”

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That’s the difference between a great scorer and an elite offensive player.

Brown scores within the flow, punishes teams that overcommit, and benefits from Boston’s faster pace. The biggest change: he reads the game better. When to attack, let others work, or close.

Boston didn’t win Sunday, and Brown cares more about the loss than the milestone. Still, tying Larry Bird in anything deserves more than a footnote.

Now, Brown gets his next chance Tuesday in Utah (12-19) to top the Celtics record book.

No matter what happens, the real point is clear:

This version of Brown isn’t just carrying the Celtics through injuries. He’s redefining his ceiling and showing how thin the line is between star and franchise pillar.

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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.