NEW YORK — There was serious business to address for Celtics rookie Jaylen Brown, who got into a heated exchange with teammate Marcus Smart during the second half of the Celtics’ win Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The team’s locker room was closed for an extended period of time after the game and Brown didn’t talk with reporters. Both players said the incident was merely competitiveness when they reconvened Friday at the team’s shootaround, a case of two fiery players who had a disagreement.

Smart and Brown appeared to argue over a missed defensive assignment by Brown and the rookie also freelancing on a play call.

“I’d rather have a guy argue with me than have no emotion,’’ Smart said. “It shows his passion and his care for the game. I don’t want guys with no emotion. Those are guys you don’t want to play with because it’s like they are so nonchalant and they could care less.’’

Smart said he is encouraged by the desire of the team’s younger core.

“You like that,’’ he said. “This team does a really good job of letting guys handle it on their own. We’re grown. We’re adults here and we’re guys that are a brotherhood. Brothers and sisters fight. Your mom doesn’t jump into that, that’s between you and him. And when you’re done, you kiss and make up.

“Me and Jaylen are good. I don’t see what everybody is making a big [deal] about this. There’s nothing to be concerned about.’’

Said coach Brad Stevens: “We talk about being able to move forward from it but we spend 82 games together, we spend six months together, you’re going to have some of that. That’s usually better for a team than worse. It’s not always a bad thing.’’

Car tricks

After he got into the exchange with Smart and headed to his car, Brown had another issue to address: His car was completely filled with popcorn, a customary NBA rookie prank by his veteran teammates. Brown had to walk back to the locker room and allow a team employee to attempt to clean the popcorn out of the vehicle.

“I know who did it,’’ Brown said. “I might have to get them back, we’ll see. But definitely they should expect some form of retaliation. Friendly fire. I knew it was coming out of two people, I’m not going to say any names. I know who did it. One of them is in this gym and one of them is not in this gym [Isaiah Thomas].’’

What made the night even more uncomfortable is Brown had his family with him at the game, and they drove home with butter and kernels still in the car.

“The seats were all buttered up, they laid some towels down and I had like five people with me,’’ Brown said. “The whole family had to ride home. [My mom] didn’t give me her opinion on it. She was probably upset. She doesn’t like anybody messing with her baby.’’

On the Smart incident, Brown said: “I’m passionate about the game. I want to win, too. We’re heading into the playoffs. There’s stuff we’ve got to clean up as a team and I think confrontation and arguments are going to happen. I think it’s a good thing and we should be better for it.’’

Stevens still not interested

Stevens again reiterated that he is not interested in the Indiana University job that just opened with the firing of Tom Crean and he plans on staying in Boston indefinitely.

“I don’t speak to the rumor mill or anything else, but I made it pretty clear [Wednesday] that I’m going to be here,’’ he said. “I’ve been asked about that quite a bit and I’m going to keep saying the same thing, I’m going to be here until the Celtics decide they want to move in another direction.’’

Stevens has been rumored as an Indiana target since his days coaching Butler.

“I grew up in that state; I spent a lot of time down there and I love the state of Indiana and what basketball means in that state,’’ he said. “Certainly IU means a lot to the people in that state. I was no different, as a team, but again, I’ll be here. That doesn’t mean I’m not certainly a fan of the teams of the state. I root for one [Butler] a heck of a lot harder than the rest. I’m a big fan of what Coach Crean did down there. It was really a tough deal when he came in nine years ago and I thought he did a really good job and I’m sure his next job is right around the corner.’’

Weekend off for Thomas

The Celtics aren’t just giving Thomas the weekend off because they are facing two of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference.

Stevens insisted before the team’s 98-95 win Friday over the Brooklyn Nets that Thomas indeed has a bone bruise on his right knee and he may not even be available for Monday’s showdown with the Washington Wizards.

Stevens said Thomas was injured early in the third quarter in Wednesday’s win over the Timberwolves. He appeared to get injured taking a hard spill and then was landed on by Minnesota center Karl-Anthony Towns. Thomas did not make the trip with his teammates and Stevens said the move wasn’t precautionary.

“You could see him favoring [the knee] a little bit at that time,’’ Stevens said of Thomas. “He felt OK through the rest of the game. It was really hurting and swelled up [Thursday] night and so we’re hopeful to have him back after the trip but I’m not sure. I think that he’ll be evaluated day-to-day in Boston. He’ll go through as much treatment as possible.

“He wants to be back. He wants to be here. He wants to be playing but he was sore [Thursday]. Those bone bruises are a little bit unpredictable.’’

Stevens scoffed at the assertion that the Celtics are resting Thomas for the playoffs.

“We’re in position [for that],’’ he said. “We want to play our guys together and we just haven’t had a chance to do it. The more that we can play the guys that are playing a lot together, the better. I guess we’re not going to do it as much this weekend with him but it will be a great opportunity for other guys to step up and play key roles.’’

Smart started in place of Thomas, and had 12 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals.

Gary Washburn can be reached at gwashburn@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GwashburnGlobe.