Angry Joe Mazzulla Gives Two-Word Explanation For Celtics’ Loss To Pacers
Mazzulla wasn't happy with how Monday's game ended
For the third time in a week, the Boston Celtics suffered a frustrating loss in a close game on Monday night.
After falling to the Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs at home last week, the Celtics kicked off their road trip with a 98-96 loss to the last-place Indiana Pacers on Monday.
Without Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Boston struggled offensively and fell behind by double digits in the third quarter. The shorthanded Celtics rallied to tie the game with 29 seconds left in the fourth quarter, only to lose on Pascal Siakam’s go-ahead jumper with six seconds remaining.
Derrick White missed the go-ahead 3-pointer with one second left, sealing Boston’s third loss in its last four games.
The Celtics called out the refs last week after both of their losses against the Nuggets and Spurs, especially after shooting just four free throws against San Antonio. Joe Mazzulla blamed the officials for Monday’s loss as well, giving a two-word explanation for Boston’s controversial defeat.
“Illegal screen,” was Mazzulla’s only answer to reporters’ questions during his postgame press conference. He repeated the phrase six times before leaving.
Mazzulla was referring to the screen Siakam set on Derrick White during Indiana’s final possession. Siakam elbowed White as he tried to get around the pick, briefly knocking him to the floor.
The referees didn’t call Siakam for an illegal screen, allowing play to continue. White recovered and tried to defend the bigger Siakam, but was unable to prevent his game-winning floater.
Had the officials blown their whistles, the Celtics would have had the ball with roughly 14 seconds left in a tied game. Worst case, the game likely would have gone to overtime.
Instead, Boston falls to 24-15 with the loss. The Celtics will try to bounce back on Thursday against the Miami Heat, hopefully with Brown back in the lineup.
